Native Plants from American Beauties
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Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed

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Swamp milkweed has big heads of rose pink, sweetly scented flowers. It's not unusual to see two or three butterflies on a single flower at the same time. Swamp milkweed grows naturally in wet soil but also grows well in regular garden soil.

Benefits

Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Host and nectar plant for monarch butterflies
Lovely vanilla fragrance
Thrives in sun in average or moist soil
Deer resistant

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips

Grows easily in medium wet to wet soils in full sun. Tolerates well-drained garden soil even though this species is native to swamps and wet meadows Plants have deep taproots and are best left undisturbed once established Like many milkweeds, plants are slow to emerge from the ground in spring


Height
3-4 Feet

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Spread
1-2 Feet


Native Range
Swamps and low meadows; Nova Scotia to Saskatoon, south to Utah, New Mexico and Florida.

Distribution Maps by State and County

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Native Trivia

Plants in the milkweed family produce pods with fluffy seed that is used by birds to build nests. Some birds, such as Baltimore orioles, use the stem fibers for nesting material.


USDA Hardiness Zone 3-7

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"Milkweeds provide loads of nectar and serve as homes and food sources for monarch caterpillars."

Good Companions
Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), Turtlehead (Chelone glabra), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Dwarf Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium dubium), Lyre-leaved Sage (Salvia lyrata)

Characteristics & Attributes

Plan Sub Group
Medium to Tall Perennials
Exposure
Sun
Soil
Wide soil tolerance
Soil Moisture Preference
Average
Moist
Attracts Wildlife
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Bloom Time
Summer
Critter Resistance
Deer Resistant
Habitat Collection
Butterfly
Wet Sun
Foliage Color
Green
Uses
Fragrant
Meadow
Native to
Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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