Swamp Milkweed

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed is a native, colonizing perennial, wildflower growing 3 to 6 feet tall. It prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil. Its moisture requirements are high, and it is primarily found in moist habitats such as wet meadows, floodplains, riverbanks, pond shores, stream banks, wet woods, swamps, and marshes, although it will also grow in drier areas such as prairies, fields, and roadsides. Swamp Milkweed needs full sun or partial shade to flourish. It is insect-pollinated and self-fertilizing. Useful for wetland rehabilitation. Swamp Milkweed tolerates heavy clay soils and is very deer-resistant. It is a good component of a wildlife seed mixture when seeded with native grasses and wildflowers. Swamp Milkweed is a favored food of butterflies, including monarch butterfly, and hummingbirds.