Asclepias incarnata, the swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, rose milkflower, swamp silkweed, or white Indian hemp, is a herbaceous perennial plant species native to North America. It grows in damp to wet soils and also is cultivated as a garden plant for its flowers, which attract butterflies and other pollinators with nectar. Like most other milkweeds, it has sap containing toxic chemicals, a characteristic that repels insects and other herbivorous animals.
Family:
Apocynaceae (Dogbane)
Height:
2 to 6 feet
Leaves:
Opposite and narrow, up to 4 inches long. Stems and leaves bleed a milky sap when broken.
Flower:
Large pink clusters at the top of the stem
Bloom time:
June-September
Nicknames:
Silkweed, Rose Milkweed
Habitat:
Wet meadows, shorelines, and other sunny, wet or moist areas
Wildlife Benefits:
Attractive to bees and butterflies, monarchs in particular.
Can I plant this in my garden?
Swamp milkweed can be grown in a garden with full or partial sun and rich soils that are moist or wet.
References:
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_milkweed.htm
Family | Apocynaceae |
---|---|
Habit | Forb |
Origin | native |
Life cycle | perennial |
Flower | pink |
Bloom time | (6) June, (7) July, (8) August, (9) September |
*sites | Gervais Mill Pond, Keller Golf Course, Lake Phalen, Snail Lake |