Latin Asclepias incarnata L.
Perennial - Zone 4
Swamp Milkweed has become increasingly popular due to the prevalence of information relating to the endangered Monarch butterfly. This perennial flower has both environmental benefits and aesthetic qualities for your garden. The beautiful and showy mauve flowers are attractive to both our eyes and to pollinators, particularly butterflies. This showy perennial should be a part of any serious butterfly or pollinator garden. Incarnata is the Asclepias variety that the Monarch butterfly chooses to host their cocoons. The caterpillars will feed on the leaves of swamp milkweed until they are ready to move on to the next step of their life cycle. Swamp Milkweed will usually reach a mature height of 3-4' but can be up to 6' tall under the right conditions. As the name suggests, Swamp Milkweed can handle wet, swampy conditions. Although it must be noted that they are versatile, highly adaptable and will grow in drier conditions too.
Starting milkweed is quite easy for the home gardener. Here at Pangea we stratify the seeds prior to planting, which helps to increase our germination rates. The best way is to barely cover the seeds in a light seedling mixture and water thoroughly. Cover tray with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for a month. Once you have removed it from the fridge, do not allow soil medium to dry out during the germination period. If you would like, you can use bottom heat to speed up the germination process. Seeds should germinate between 7 and 35 days. Start this process 8-12 weeks before last frost. Once seedlings are large enough they can be transplanted into larger pots. After the risk of frost has passed, plant into garden 12-24" apart. Plant in full sun or partial shade for best results.
10+ Seeds per pack