Asclepias incarnata

Meet the milkweed that has ventured into the wetlands of NE Ohio and is the special darling of the monarch butterfly! Monarchs depend on milkweeds as the sole food source for their caterpillars, and evidence suggests that female monarchs favor swamp milkweed over other milkweeds when egg-laying. The plant is also an outstanding nectar source for a wide range of bees, wasps, ants, flies, beetles, moths, and butterflies.

Swamp milkweed is distinguished among the milkweeds for its ability to tolerate flooded soils, and in the wild it grows in wetlands. In the garden, swamp milkweed does not require wet soil, and it will do well in any sunny area that isn’t extra dry. Unlike common milkweed, swamp milkweed does not spread aggressively, instead forming a shrub-like cluster of stems over a period of years. Swamp milkweed provides a wonderful addition to the color palette of the midsummer garden, producing broad, eye-catching clusters of pink and cream-colored flowers in July. To anyone inclined to stop and smell the flowers, swamp milkweed is a special treat: the rich aroma is likened to cinnamon and vanilla.

References: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.

Photo 1 by Alyssa Zearley. Photos 2 and 3 by Ashley Keesling.