Swamp milkweed carries clusters of pink flowers on upright stems and provides food for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
- Height
- 91–153 cm / 3–5 ft
- Spread
- 60–92 cm / 2–3 ft
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 3a–9b
Planting
Use sun or partial shade with moist, neutral to acidic soil. Pond edges, streamside borders and damp meadow planting suit its tall growth and preference for reliable moisture.
Care
Keep the root zone consistently moist. Expect some caterpillar feeding; mature pods open and release seeds that travel on the wind.
Before planting: The sap can irritate skin and eyes, and the plant is harmful if swallowed in quantity.
Planting Swamp milkweed?
Find a landscaper nearby to help with planting and establishment.
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Swamp milkweed: Joshua Mayer · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Butterfly weed: Susan Strine · CC BY 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Green milkweed: Eric Hunt · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- 'Dilys' geranium: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.