We get plenty of sun and water, so it should be the perfect conditions for it to thrive. Plants bloom later than butterfly milkweed, and the flowers are a … Swamp milkweed seeds a lot so you will be able to expand in the coming seasons…good luck! The attractive pink and sometimes rose-purple flowers mature in mid-spring and persist into early fall. Similar species: • Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Flowers: Summer; Red/Pink; 5 parts (petals); Pink to rose-purple. Could this be because of the type of bloom-booster fertilizer I gave it? Hi Meg, that sounds like an amazing habitat to support butterflies, pollinators, and lots of other wildlife. Hi Charles, 6-10 plants is a nice size for a patch but gardening rules were made to be broken. Black birds do a wonderful job of cleaning when they come in a flock , but you know how they are–here today, gone tomorrow. Love this web sight. This problem occurs early in the season, often due to cold and wet soil. It is in the genus Asclepias, making it a type of milkweed. I would like to expand on my milkweed area, I have quite a bit of common milkweed seed and a small amount of swamp seed. With its attractive flowers and all the other usual milkweed benefits, it was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2017. I planted Butterfly Weed, asclepias incarnata ‘Soulmate’, in my backyard where my dogs will be around it. Incarnata typically blooms its second year. Create a lively butterfly garden with this lovely milkweed at its centre. I have plenty of places around my house to plant it, but if it would rather be down in the swamp….I can certainly put it where it wants to be. Red milkweed has pink flowers and is an infrequent plant of I just bought an asclepias perennis at a native plant nursery on Sanibel Island – which is on the east coast. The sticky white sap that gives milkweed its common name and the leaves contain toxic chemicals (cardiac glycosides) to deter mammals and insects from feeding on the foliage. 25+ Milkweed Plants Ideas for North American Butterfly Gardens. All of my milkweed plants have started turning yellow and wilting, then they die. Common Milkweed Pests Aphids Aphids which are often found on milkweed plants are yellow, soft, oval, and huddle together on new shoots, stems, buds, and leaves. I doubt they will flower this year, so I’m wondering if it would be wise to cut the plants back and give them a chance to get healthier. Dill plant is growing very well. Have them cold stratifying in the fridge for my first try- next time will winter sow them. Once these eggs hatch, the caterpillars don’t care if their milkweed host plant has blooms as long as they have plenty of milkweed leaves to eat. We are in a drought this year so I've watered in between the infrequent rain. Is that too wet? Should I just dig up the whole plant and destroy it, or just cut the plant back to the ground? Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. This year I planted both swamp and common milkweed from seeds (winter sown) and both are doing great in my garden so far (zone 6b). I’m in central Kentucky and we have gotten much more rain than average this Spring, so the plants are certainly getting enough water. Other tips? Good luck! I’ve taken in some eggs but am looking at soon feeding squash if I don’t find an alternative. Monarch Butterfly Garden- Bring Home the Butterflies, Butterfly Garden Ideas and Gardening Tips to Attract Monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds, and other Precious Pollinators, Asclepias incarnata: Swamp milkweed, Swamp silkweed, Rose milkweed, White Indian hemp, Asclepias incarnata also attracts buckeyes, bumblebees, eastern tiger swallowtails, fritillaries, giant swallowtails, hairstreaks, honey bees, hummingbird moths, hummingbirds, skippers, spicebush swallowtails, and more… (If you know of others, please comment below. The long, oblong leaves are light green and grow to about 8 inches long. Hi Kris, if the foliage looks sickly I would cut them stems back and spray remaining plant with a hydrogen peroxide solution as explained in this post: Thanks, Tony, to what point would you suggest I cut back the plants? It blooms prolifically in our northern region. If the problem persists, then I would pull it. Bought the plant at a garden center. Will the swamp milkweed survive the winter or is it definitely an annual in Oregon? We had monarch butterflies, eggs, and caterpillars this year. Here are some short and long term strategies to stop them: I have one A. Incarnata growing that suddenly started pushing out “sucker” stems, stems growing out from established leaf stems, and have the top most portion looking odd. Description: Also known as Narrowleaf milkweed, this perennial has narrow, whorled leaves with clusters of greenish-white flowers, often tinged with purple and blooms June to September. I’m also wondering if butterflies will find it, even without blooms, to lay their eggs. It is native to central and eastern USA and tends to grow in wet sites along streams, ponds or bogs. good luck…. Tolerates shade. Hi Lauri, those plants come back from the roots. Our swamp patch has thrived in partial shade in Minnesota. Where I had planted a pink swamp milkweed last year the stalk is pink. If you want to keep in containers, give the pot a little extra protection like we do with our potted trees: Our new swamp milkweed plants are growing nice and tall in our garden. 2. Unlike many ornamentals, swamp milkweed tolerates heavy clay soils and is very deer-resistant. Hi Diann, it is native to your region. Make sure that it drains well, or maybe consider extending the drainspout to the lawn or an area where plants who like wet feed grow- there is a native swamp milkweed. I live in Denver, CO and while we aren’t really on the migration path I’ve read we can get a few monarchs- other pollinators would benefit even if no monarchs. It has many aphids. Do you have any other suggestions?? I must admit that for the first two years the plants didn’t do much, but in the third year, they really did their thing. Hi Kris, Assassin bugs are caterpillar predators, while milkweed bugs feast on the seeds. Thanks for responding :) I've tried to google but all I come up with is bugs on the plants and I don't have any bugs the milkweed bugs have just started coming around in the last few days but the plants were covered in them the last few years and I haven't had that trouble with them I don't think. Greetings from the Williamsburg, Virginia area =) I have a quick question for you Tony, How can I safely separate our swamp milkweed so I can plant it all over my yard? 85 degrees lately. I have treated the oleander aphids with soapy water. The top leaves are in great shape so far but the plants are very crowded because they are so huge. Soulmate's erect, clump-forming habit gives plenty of real estate to the clusters of cherrypink flowers that emerge in midsummer. I found a supplier of seeds within 5 miles of me on eBay and ordered some. They aren’t the same bug are they? At the sap point, the stem looked a bit bent. Everybody has the same old stuff in their yards. They are about 4 ft. high with many small new plants growing along side them that have not flowered. Am I missing something? The vanilla-scented flowers are pale pink to rose-purple. Only certain insects which have evolved to be able to deal with those chemicals without being poisoned can thrive on the plants, and have become specialists on milkweeds. Asclepias purpurascens – Purple Milkweed is a Michigan native milkweed and is native to most of the eastern United States though it is uncommon to rare in cultivated gardens. I have raised many Monarchs from that one plant in my classroom to my first graders delight. We’re adding more local milkweeds in sunny ground areas, and I love the idea of some pretty pink ones in the pond. I have orange butterfly weed that I started from seed last year. The plants had been forgotten and were being stored in the back of one of their greenhouses, but they had been watered and were receiving filtered light. Interestingly enough, it has been very humid here this summer, and the Milkmaid germinated quickly and is looking great. Will swamp milkweed thrive in this area? Clusters of deep rose-purple to pale-rose colored flowers from June through August, narrow 3-6 inch leaves, interesting spindle-shaped seedpods, attracts butterflies & other beneficial insects, food plant for Monarch & Queen Butterfly. Monarch’s frequent the plants (four large clumps, mixed in with other butterfly plants, spanning 20 feet) but do not seem to lay their eggs on the plants. We cut back the dead stalks of incarnata in the spring and dead stems of syriaca can be pulled from the ground. Asclepias purpurascens – Purple Milkweedis a Michigan native milkweed and is native to most of the eastern United States though it is uncommon to rare in cultivated gardens. Last year I planted swamp milkweed asclepias incarnata. Right now it’s sitting in a bucket of water. Hi Yvette, those sound like prime conditions for growing swamp milkweed…good luck! any idea? We don’t overwinter swamp in pots, we leave a few seedlings in undesirable places, and then pot them up when they return next spring. The perfect nectar source for monarch butterflies. Last season, I did hatch some Monarchs with crumpled wings. I’ve had Butterfly Weed for years and have not had much luck attracting Monarchs .That all changed with the Swamp Milkweeds. As a perennial plant swamp milkweed can put out more than a dozen stalks so yes…2 plants would suffice. Last year had lots of problems with aphids . Oddly, I couldn’t find “swamp milkweeed” in my Audobon wildflower guide. They grew to the height they were supposed to, flowered, but some of the leaves are turning yellow and falling off, some of the other leaves are turning purple, and some are light green. six plants or six stems? I am going to try cutting back some incarnata this week too. The soil this year has been wet due to rain. . Swamp milkweed (also known as rose milkweed) is another native perennial. ‘Gay Butterflies’ is a mix of yellow-, orange-, and red-flowering plants. Hi Shannon, if you’re seeing exposed roots, I would cover with more soil. I put in 5 swamp milkweed plants last year. They should be hardy to your region…. I’m so glad I found this website. Hi Greg, there is a list of trusted milkweed vendors on my milkweed resources page, and everyone on my mailing list received this post, which is also searchable on google: Our swamp milkweed in our prairie garden is a butterfly magnet! Karen says: Yes, the caterpillars eat a lot of milkweed leaves. Fertilizer? I sure hope not! Have a great season…. Do I prune them? Good luck! hopefully, someone will chime in if they know the answer…, I really appreciate your fast reply! … Hi Jan, the seeds will get a natural cold stratification if you plant them in fall: My swamp milkweed is going to seed. You just have to keep plugging away at it. If I can take a cutting, can I use the tropical milkweed instructions? Regular potting soil? I have even managed to germinate stands of Blue Bonnets. Stones – required? My tropical and swamp milkweeds have come up from cuttings I took last year and some I have grown from seed. So if I read these posts correctly, seeds do better in pots and rhizomes do better in the ground. I have quite a bit of self seeded milkweed, but I am not sure what is the best way to plant in a large area. Planting Milkweed (Asclepias) is essential to creating a habitat for the beloved Monarch butterfly's survival, as they are the only plants on which Monarch caterpillars will feed. Brazilian milkweed has red to yellow flowers and is a cultivated plant that persists in southern Louisiana but takes on an annual habit in north Louisiana. My milkweed is in its third season and the blossoms are enjoyed by lots of pollinators. Is it possible there is a small pest causing the damage like spider mites? Am I really taking a risk it won’t survive the winter by placing it into a pot? I am new to this. If I buy dry seed at this time of year, can I store it dry overwinter in the refrigerator, to be wet-stratified closer to planting time in the spring? How do I do that? I will add more info to the page after I see the results…. Are there any reasons why it could be like that? I’m trying to find some wild milkweed & appear to be finding a lot of dogvane–but have seen some milkweed out & about with pink stalks, so? A fragrant rose-purple milkweed with honey-scented blooms. Leaves: Narrower than Common Milkweed, simple. Now do I cut the old plants back or pull them out for the winter? The area is about 10' X 3' I bought 5 Milkweed plants about 2 1/2 ft. tall, 4 Lantanas, 4 Pentas. Host for Monarch caterpillars, nectar source for many butterflies. Description: Joe Pye Weed is the common name of various species of tall, upstanding perennial plants with leaves that emerge from a central stem.These plants are related to sunflowers, but from a distance, may in late summer be mistaken for swamp milkweed because of the clusters of purple-pink flowers at the top of their stems. If they don’t pull out easy (they shouldn’t be attached to the root system) then just cut them back. If you have a swampy bottomland or other area that stays wet, this is the one for you. In most cases, these can’t be shipped to Hawaii. Asclepias purpurascens (purple milkweed) is similar in appearance to common milkweed (A. syriaca), except its flowers are deep rose pink and its leaves are more pointed. These are some fertilizers we’ve used: Here’s more info, in case your milkweed develops other problems: My swamp milkweed did the same thing this year (its second year). Flowers or not, though, female monarch butterflies spend most of their lives seeking out milkweed plants to lay eggs upon. This is happening to my swamp milkweed, too. This has happened to each blossom cluster, one by one, until I have only one left. Suggestions: Hose them off with water using your … If it’s planted in a dry area of your garden, I would try moving it…you’ve got nothing to lose if it hasn’t bloomed for 5 years. I have a 100 acres that I manage organically for my bees and and other wild life. Hi Linda, here’s more info about potting milkweed: Do swamp milkweed have a pink stalk? I have dug up some swamp milkweed from a near by ditch (mowers will get it otherwise). ), 1. Our dogs have never even nibbled on milkweed and we grow it all over our yard. check out: Also, check out this article about: Tropical Milkweed. by its erect umbels of pink flowers, tall branching habit, and relatively narrow leaves. Now, I'm concerned there may not be enough for the eggs to eat & develop as needed to become butterflies. Milkweed plants … I’m hoping it will bloom. Always tons of bees, Great Golden Digger wasps, hover flies (maybe that’s why no aphids this year?). This evening, I snapped off a damaged-looking leaf from one of the plants and sap came seeping out. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) usually has yellow-orange or reddish blossoms and likes dry to medium wet soils. If so, how can I treat my plants this year? I can’t wait for it to mature and flower to see what pollinators show up ! First apparent on the tips and margins of the leaves. Butterflies love it, and not just the Monarchs. The blooms last longer and it reblooms more readily when pinched back. 3 Big Advantages of Winter Sown Milkweed + Winter Sowing Container ideas, Please see comments below for more info about growing, Valentine Gift Ideas for a Butterfly Lover, Start or Improve your Monarch Butterfly Garden, Butterfly Garden Book for Monarchs- Instant Download, Top Tools, Supplies, and Resources for Raising Monarch Butterflies, 25 Milkweed Plant Ideas for North American Butterfly Gardens, Native to most of the Continental US and Eastern Canada, Find Asclepias Incarnata Seeds and Plants on Amazon, Monarch Butterfly Kits to Raise Caterpillars into Butterflies, Winter Sowing Milkweed Seeds Part 1: Supply Checklist, Perennial: USDA hardiness zones 3a-8b (lows -39.9 °C or -39.8 °F), Flowers: pink with highlights of vibrant purple, Popular nectar source for monarchs and other pollinators, Plays well with others, not an aggressive spreader, Makes a great cut flower with its long lasting blooms, can use stem cuttings to raise monarch butterflies, Tiny pollinators buzzing around this can get annoying…however, this isn’t really a con since they’re pollinating your milkweed, Leaves are thin and dry out quickly when picked to feed, Start seeds indoors 2 months before final frost- cold stratification required, Slow release fertilizer is optional. 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