Where does milkweed grow in the United States?
Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa produces large stunning flowers its third year. It is native to the American Central Prairies and West. Flowers at last!
Why plant native milkweed?
It is important to plant milkweeds that are native to your area. This is for the welfare of the plant and the Monarch Butterflies, who may rely on the species of milkweeds they encounter to navigate on their journey. Below are range maps of the several species of US native milkweed for which we carry Seed balls.
When should I plant milkweed?
Planting Time: Milkweed plants can be planted in spring or fall. In spring, your milkweed plants will likely arrive in a dormant state, with no green leaves above the soil line. This is perfectly normal!
Is a patch of milkweed just one plant?
This means a patch of common milkweed could actually just be a single plant. Nectar composition in A. syriaca is nearly 100% sucrose (Southwick et al. 1981). Monarchs often lay eggs on fresh shoots that are easier for caterpillars to feed on. Fine hairs on underside of leaves—soft and velvety!
Where should you not plant milkweed?
It is not recommended to plant milkweed within 10 miles of the coast in central and northern California where milkweed did not occur historically. Instead, plant a variety of flowers native to your region that provide nectar from early spring through fall to support monarchs and other pollinators.
What zones do milkweed grow in?
Common milkweed grows in zones 4-9, and reaches a height of about three feet. It's the plant we're most familiar with seeing growing in the wild.
What states does milkweed grow?
Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) occurs in all the western states and is the top choice for restoration in this region with A.
Will milkweed come back year after year?
These native milkweed are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. Their aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem) die back but their rootstock remains alive throughout the winter. Cut back milkweed stalks in the late fall or winter, after they have produced seed pods and these seeds have had time to mature.
Can milkweed survive a freeze?
Milkweed can survive ranges that dip below freezing just fine. Zone 8 and above don't need to do anything to protect them. Ambient temperatures should be around 65-75F after the winter. Seeds won't germinate above 85F.
Does milkweed go dormant in the winter?
They lay dormant in garden debris and snow through winter, and germinate perfectly in spring with milkweed plants everywhere by midsummer.
Why is milkweed a problem?
Milkweed hosts a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). As caterpillars, monarchs ingest the parasite along with their normal milkweed meals, and when they hatch from their chrysalises they are covered in spores. "It's a debilitating parasite," Satterfield says.
Do bees like milkweed?
"Very fond of milkweed blossoms, bees will desert other flowers when these are available. The plants provide a good nectar flow. Bees discard the pollen. Assuming enough plants are available, milkweeds can bring a good crop of honey."
What is the best milkweed for monarch butterflies?
Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. syriaca) averaged the highest number of eggs.
Should you plant milkweed in your yard?
You should also know where and how to plant milkweed. Best growing practices suggest milkweeds be planted in the sunniest parts of your yard or garden. If you have a choice of soil, most milkweed species thrive in light, well-drained soils with seeds planted a quarter-inch deep.
What month do you plant milkweed?
The best time to put in Milkweed plants is in early spring after the danger of frost has passed, while the best time to plant milkweed from seed is in late fall - this allows mother Nature to take care of the cold stratification for you!
Is milkweed poisonous to dogs?
The Pet Poison Helpline reports that milkweed is a moderate to severe poisoning in dogs and cats, which means get to the vet as soon as you suspect your pet has ingested the plant, or even butterflies or caterpillars that eat milkweed. Buddy's symptoms were typical for poisoning, but other signs include: Drooling.
What type of milkweed is best for monarchs?
Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. syriaca) averaged the highest number of eggs.
Does milkweed need sun or shade?
full sunlightMost milkweed species evolved in open areas where they were exposed to full sunlight and they will do best if they are planted in the sunniest areas of your gardens. A few species, such as A. purpurascens, appear to require partial shade. The timing of the collection of milkweed pods or seeds is critical.
What type of soil does milkweed grow best in?
They do well in areas with higher rainfall, such as the eastern U.S. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) does better in dryer areas, such as the western U.S. It needs sandy or gravelly soils. The exception is the Clay form does well in heavier soils, including dry clay. Plant in full hot sun.
Is milkweed a perennial in Zone 4?
Also perennial, it's hardy to Zone 4 and blooms from late spring right through summer. Grow this one in full sun, in well drained soil. All milkweed species can be started indoors in late winter (February and March on the coast) and transplanted out in mid-spring.
When did purple milkweed become common?
It had previously been much more common: from the 1800s through the mid-1900s eighty-two populations had been documented. A great monograph on the conservation of purple milkweed produced by the New England Wildflower Society (read it here) conjectures possible causes:
What is purple milkweed?
Purple milkweed ( Asclepias purpurascens) has an almost spherical flower cluster that is rich reddish purple in hue, darker and larger than its close relative swamp milkweed. Unlike its other close relative common milkweed, the flowers are held upright at the top of the stem. In leaf it is quite similar.
Why is purple milkweed affected?
A fungal infection of nectar that affects other milkweed species might be affecting purple milkweed; The species may be vulnerable to droughts and other resource limitations; Inbreeding depression among isolated populations; Degradation of open habitats where it did or would thrive.
Is milkweed mush?
Often, the pods have been infested by the larvae of milkweed weevils and the seed is a nonviable mush. We have a few dozen planted on our farm, and while many flowered gloriously this past year, we got absolutely zero seed. In the nursery, it is challenging to grow seedlings into healthy adults.
Is purple milkweed a non-native species?
Certainly, our current edge habitats are extremely susceptible to non-native species colonization often to the exclusion of a diverse native plant community. One thing I notice about purple milkweed is how unreliable its seed production is. Often, the pods have been infested by the larvae of milkweed weevils and the seed is a nonviable mush.
Is purple milkweed common in New Jersey?
Purple milkweed is uncommon in New Jersey, but not quite rare enough to make it onto the state list of plant species of concern. It might be headed in that direction, however. In New England, only five populations were known in 2001. It had previously been much more common: from the 1800s through the mid-1900s eighty-two populations had been documented. A great monograph on the conservation of purple milkweed produced by the New England Wildflower Society (read it here) conjectures possible causes:
What is milkweed?
Milkweed ( Asclepias) Milkweed are beautiful American wildflowers and delightful garden plants. Fragrant clusters of flowers are a magnet for butterflies and pollinators. Four species of native milkweed are found in most states: the Whorled Milkweed, Common Milkweed, and Swamp Milkweeds, and Butterfly Weed.
When does Milkweed bloom?
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias) lives up to its name, producing an explosion of star-shaped flowers in rounded three-inch clusters from late spring into summer. Each bicolor bloom stands ...
What is milkweed in butterfly gardens?
Shop Milkweed Plants. Butterfly Weed is the iconic, bright orange beauty that's a staple in every butterfly garden. This showy native wildflower is easy to grow, cold hardy, and does well in poor, dry soi... Butterfly Weed is the iconic, bright orange beauty that's a staple in every butterfly garden.
Why are milkweed leaves disappearing?
However, because of widespread pesticide use and the destruction of meadows across the country , wild-growing milkweeds are disappearing in places where these butterflies breed. This has led to a nearly 90% decline in monarch populations over the last 2 decades! Looking ahead, if we don't replenish these lost milkweeds, Monarch butterflies will vanish from the American landscape forever. Fortunately, you can plant milkweed to help support your local monarch butterfly and pollinator population!
What is a whorled milkweed?
Whorled Milkweed earns it's name from it's skinny, "whorled leaves". Small clusters of white flowers bloom a little later in the season providing color in your garden when most flowers have disappeared. Prepare to entertain many types of pollinators such as butterflies, and bees with this Asclepias. Monarchs will lay their eggs and the larvae (caterpillars) will enjoy a late season feast. When planting this perennial you can be proud to be supporting the Monarch population. (Asclepias verticillata)
Why do you plant milkweed in a garden?
Plant milkweed in your meadow or garden to provide much-needed habitat and food for monarch butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Follow our guide to learn how to planting and growing healthy milkweed.
How to plant milkweed in a hole?
Start with healthy plants that have developed root systems. Prepare a planting hole that's twice as deep and twize as wide as the root ball of your milkweed plant. When planting multiple plants, you can amend the soil for each planting hole, or amend the whole bed before planting.
How to Plant and Grow Milkweed
Milkweed is a native wildflower beloved by monarch butterflies. There are a number of popular species suited for cultivation in the garden. Here’s how to plant, grow, and care for milkweed in your garden—and support butterflies!
About Milkweed
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the best known species of the over 100 perennial milkweed species native to North America. Milkweed plants support 12 species of butterflies and moths, including the Monarch butterfly.
Where is milkweed native to?
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Tropical milkweed is an annual plant that is no native to the US (Woodson, 1954). It is native to Central and South America (Broyles and Stoj 2019). Electronic records show that tropical milkweed was planted in gardens in the US as early as 1806 (Satterfield et al., 2015).
Where does swamp milkweed grow?
Swamp Milkweed is a native perennial of the eastern and central United States and southern Canada (Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia). It is common in wetlands. Swamp milkweed will often have multiple stems up to 2 m tall and it can have several stems coming from one single root crown (Ivey et al., 2003). Each stem on average can have 22 pink ...
How long does a swamp milkweed flower last?
Flowers will last about 5 days and each flower produces about 1.5 uL of nectar each day, with a mean sucrose concentration of 30% (C.T. Ivey, unpublished data). Monarchs often lay eggs on fresh shoots that are easier for caterpillars to feed on. Swamp milkweed can spread highly efficiently by shooting out rhizomes.
How does milkweed spread?
It prefers well-drained soils. Common milkweed can spread highly efficiently by shooting out rhizomes that can form large clones of up to several thousand stems (Wilbur, 1979). This means a patch of common milkweed could actually just be a single plant.
What is the color of swamp milkweed?
This means a patch of Swamp milkweed could actually just be a single plant! Key Characteristics of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Flower color ranges from pink to light purple, fragrant. Produces milky sap when leaves/stem broken. Leaves are generally smooth, long, and narrow, tapering to a point.
Where does antelope horn milkweed come from?
Antelope horns milkweed is native to the western United States and is found in savannas and prairies. Its name comes from the curved shape of the seedpods that often resembles antelope horns.
What are the characteristics of milkweed?
Key Characteristics of Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca: Flower color ranges from pink to white, highly fragrant. Milky sap when leaves/stem broken. Fine hairs on underside of leaves—soft and velvety! Mature leaves typically quite broad.
