Butterfly Garden Plant Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata)
General Information
Cultural Requirements
Native Range
Plant Rating
Plant Reviews
General Information
Swamp Milkweed with Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Appreciative of damp locations, Swamp Milkweed plants will increase in size by sending out underground stems, called rhizomes, which produce clumps of plants. The rhizomes do not spread far, resulting in a garden plant that is thick and eye-catching to butterflies as well as other pollinators.
Importance as a butterfly nectar source:
Once established in the garden, Swamp Milkweed plants will produce a large number of showy blooms per plant that are attractive to a variety of butterflies. The large number of blooms per plant make Swamp Milkweed an essential butterfly garden plant.Importance as a caterpillar food source:
Like all milkweeds, Swamp Milkweed is an important food source for Monarch caterpillars.
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 3 to 9 |
| Bloom Period | July to August |
| Bloom Color | White to light pink |
| Plant Height | 24 inches |
| Plant Spread | Varies |
| Light Exposure | Sun to light shade |
| Soil Moisture | Moist to wet |
| Animal/Disease Problems | Deer resistant, aphids may be a problem |
Plant Rating
Plant rating scale ranges from 0 to 3. Plants rating 3 are the most useful for butterfly gardens. For more details on the ratings, see Native Plant Ratings
| Garden Rating | 3 |
| Nectar Rating | 3 |
| Caterpillar Rating | 3 |
From a NABA member Swamp Milkweed is easy to grow from seed
