Asclepias incarnata

Swamp MilkweedSwamp milkweed, Rose Milkweed, Red Milkweed, Swamp Silkweed, White Indian Hemp has big heads of rose pink, sweetly scented flowers. It's not unusual to see two or three butterflies on a single flower at the same time. Swamp milkweed grows naturally in wet soil but also grows well in regular garden soil.

Benefits:

* Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

* Host and nectar plant for monarch butterflies

* Lovely vanilla fragrance

* Thrives in sun in average or moist soil

* Deer resistant

Grows easily in medium wet to wet soils in full sun. Tolerates well-drained garden soil even though this species is native to swamps and wet meadows
Plants have deep taproots and are best left undisturbed once established
Like many milkweeds, plants are slow to emerge from the ground in spring

Height
3-4 Feet

Spread
1-2 Feet

Native Range
Swamps and low meadows; Nova Scotia to Saskatoon, south to Utah, New Mexico and Florida.

Native Trivia
Plants in the milkweed family produce pods with fluffy seed that is used by birds to build nests. Some birds, such as Baltimore orioles, use the stem fibers for nesting material.

USDA Hardiness Zone 3-7

"Milkweeds provide loads of nectar and serve as homes and food sources for monarch caterpillars."
Good Companions
Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), Turtlehead (Chelone glabra), (Symphyotrichum n.a.) New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), 'Little Joe' Dwarf Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium dubium), 'Purple Knockout' Lyre-leaved Sage (Salvia lyrata)


The caterpillars ate the whole thing up before I could get it into the ground. It came back, I set in the west border and it's taking off. Yay, I have some nice purple salvias that will make nice companion plants.