A 3–5 ft tall milkweed with rose-pink flower clusters — among the easiest milkweeds to grow in gardens. Critical host plant for monarch caterpillars and attractant for native bees.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
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 through 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 latex containing toxic steroids, a characteristic that repels many species of insects and mammals.
Source: Wikipedia — Asclepias incarnata Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium plant with lance-shaped leaves; rose-pink flat-topped clusters of star-shaped flowers.
Similar species. Other milkweeds.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Native milkweed of moist habitats. Critical monarch host plant.
§ Range
Across most of North America
§ Habitat
Wet meadows, swamps, ditches, pond edges
§ Threats
Wetland drainage, garden monocultures, lawn pesticides.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the swamp milkweed is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant in wet or rain garden corners. Don't mistake young plants for invasives. Skip pesticides.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Asclepias incarnata
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Asclepias incarnata
- iNaturalist · taxon 52792
- IUCN Red List — search for Asclepias incarnata
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Asclepias incarnata
§ Sources cited
- Xerces Society
- Monarch Joint Venture
