The attractive pink and sometimes rose-purple flowers mature in mid-spring and persist into early fall. Monarch butterfly caterpillar chomps down on native swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) is an erect, clump-forming perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of fragrant, lilac-pink flowers, which bloom continuously for weeks from mid to late summer. Alamo, a lowland switchgrass, is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass native to the United States. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, requires next-to-no summer water. These seeds are sold directly from my seed store located in Sparks Nevada. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), also known as rose milkweed, rose milkflower, swamp silkweed and white Indian hemp. Aquatic milkweed, Asclepias perennis seed packet. Three species have particularly wide ranges and are good choices in most regions: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (A. tuberosa). Source: USDA Plants Database as of November 15, 2017. Food source for monarch butterfly larvae, does well in any open, moist location. Milkweed Regions Monarch Watch has grouped states by which milk-weed species are known to be important for monarchs, to divide the U.S. into six “Milkweed Regions”: 1) Northeast, 2) Southeast, 3) South Central, and 4) Western U.S.; 5) California, and 6) Arizona. Their diversity of native grasses and flowers, along with milkweed, provide the food and shelter migrating monarch butterflies need. Asclepias incarnata: Swamp milkweed. Please confirm species listed are native to your area before planting. Media Marketing/Shutterstock A monarch butterfly lands on a swamp milkweed plant. This milkweed, also native to North America, is the choice for wet/damp soil conditions, and will thrive alongside ponds, streams, lakes – and even ditches. SWAMP MILKWEED #2399 | Asclepias incarnata. The latter two are highly ornamental and widely available via the nursery trade. Taxonomy. A relatively showy plant reaching about three feet in height with pink and white blooms, narrow-leaved milkweed is native to all of California save the hottest parts of the Low Desert and the coldest parts of the High Sierra. 2. Due to native ranges, regions and individual garden variances it is difficult to put one over another as an overall Monarch “favorite”. Why Grow Milkweed Plants? Native Plants More information California Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) is a western native species of Asclepias grown for its large white flowers and long, showy narrow leaves. Swamp milkweed prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. It is native to central and eastern USA and tends to grow in wet sites along streams, ponds or bogs. Swamp milkweed is a native, colonizing, perennial wildflower useful for wetland rehabilitation. Oct 26, 2017 - Nurseries and Garden Centers across the country that have retail sales of milkweed. Sitting atop upright branching stems, clad with stiff, lance-shaped, taper-pointed leaves, the colorful umbels give way to attractive seed pods in the fall, which persist into winter. Wildlife: Swamp milkweed is a favored food of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larva (shown in the picture above). Monarch butterflies are rapidly declining due to loss of habitat and use of pesticides. A popular native wildflower in western North America, Showy Milkweed commonly occurs on rocky slopes, woodland areas, or streams. Florida has more than 20 native species of milkweed, but to date, only three are available in nurseries: butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata and A. perennis). Plant Characteristics. An exception to the rule: This an Asclepias that grows in wet conditions. California milkweed, native to central and southern California: Asclepias cordifolia: Heart-leaf milkweed, native to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range up to 2000 m. Asclepias cryptoceras : Pallid milkweed, native to the western United States. For those working to Save Western Monarchs by planting milkweed in California, please refer to our fact sheet Native Milkweed in California: Planting and Establishment. Unfortunately, the loss of natural habitat, in particular native milkweeds, has resulted in dwindling monarch populations vulnerable to other pressures, such as … The idea is to crowd-source the planting of native milkweed seeds and plants to make a milkweed corridor through Toronto. 'Alamo is … For more information on tropical milkweed, click on this link. Add to Cart View Cart Summary. Good food source for monarch butterfly larvae. Milkweed is … See more ideas about milkweed plant, milkweed, asclepias. Importantly, in both milkweed species, they found the native cultivars were just as attractive and suitable for monarchs as the respective wild-type counterparts from which those cultivars were derived. If anyone lives in an appropriate climate and wants seeds for these, message me and I can mail them snail mail. It can be smooth or have short hairs on the stem and leaves. It is interesting to note that the monarch butterfly uses these plants as both a nectar source and as a host plant to lay eggs on. Zone ... ALAMO SWITCHGRASS Switchgrass is a native, perennial, tall-grass that is well adapted to the majority of the United States except California and the Pacific Northwest. Milkweeds occur in diverse habitats including along roadsides, in agricultural fields and pastures, and on abandoned agricultural lands. Successfully establishing milkweed requires some very specific steps. The monarch butterfly is one of our most easily recognized butterflies and well known for its long migration across North America. Of these, A. fascicularis is the most widespread and widely used by monarchs. California is the center of the distributions for six milkweed species used by monarchs; A. fascicularis (Mexican whorled/narrowleaf milkweed), A. erosa (desert milkweed), A. californica (California milkweed), A. cordifo- lia (heartleaf milkweed), A. eriocarpa (woolypod milkweed) and A. vestita (woolly milkweed). I only recommend planting milkweed that is native to your area. It has pale, greenish-yellow flowers, tinged maroon that bloom March to October. Monarchs, as we know, lay their eggs on all species of milkweed ( Asclepias spp), where the eggs develop into caterpillars, then chrysalids, then the iconic black and orange butterfly that’s become the poster insect for sustainability and our own relationship with nature. When you need milkweed plants then you can call on these businesses to have Asclepias. There are several varieties of Native Milkweed. Florida native milkweed seeds for sale. Like many native plant species, milkweed populations are being lost at a rapid rate due to habitat loss. This free-flowering native milkweed usually only grows 12-24 inches tall, continually sending up stalks topped with white blooms that often have a … Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' Common Name: Swamp milkweed Native to North America (cultivar) White, more compact selection of the species. Swamp Milkweed is a herbaceous perennial that may grow up to 5 feet tall. I meant to get showy milkweed (I am near sacramento, CA) and … Native Range: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT. Asclepias perennis. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) Ann Heisenfelt Common Name: Swamp milkweed Native to North America. White swamp milkweed. • Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, produces showy, pink flowers in sunny locations. Planting milkweed is the most effective way to help because it is the only plant that sustains a monarch through each of its life stages. Butterflyweed (Asciepias tuberosa) is the most recognized native milkweed with clusters of reddish-orange flowers. This one is found in the dry spots of southern Oregon and into California. A Monarch butterfly eats nectar from a swamp milkweed on the shore of Rock Lake in Pequot Lakes, Minn., Sunday, July 22, 2012. Please refer to our Project Milkweed page for more information on successful milkweed establishment. Three different milkweed species are for sale. However, this is not a native milkweed to the United States so I do not recommend planting this. It is a good component of a wildlife seed mixture when seeded with native grasses and wildflowers. Monarch Watch has a list of milkweed varieties by state. In both years, monarchs laid many more eggs on swamp milkweed than on butterfly milkweed, despite both species being equally suitable food for the caterpillars. Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella' (Swamp Milkweed) is an erect, clump-forming perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of vanilla scented, rose-pink flowers, which bloom continuously for weeks from midsummer to early fall. Asclepias eriocarpa. It prefers moisture retentive to damp soils in full sun to partial shade. davisii (Davis’ milkweed), Asclepias fascicularis (narrow-leaved milkweed) and Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed). Swamp Milkweed Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Swamp milkweed and the next few listed below are known to be high up in the Monarchs preference list. The plants grow in large clumps that reach 3 to 6 feet tall. Description: Also known as Spider Milkweed, this perennial is clump-forming with stems that are densely covered with minute hairs.As the green seed pods grow, they curve to resemble antelope horns. All of them grow into plants that are host to the larva of monarch butterflies and Queen butterflies. Note: Tropical milkweed available at many retail nurseries is not native to the U.S. It’s important to plant milkweed species native to your area. The flowers of swamp milkweed vary in color from light pink to rose purple. The sweet-scented pink blossoms draw many butterflies, so you will want this in your garden if you like butterflies! 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