Common Milkweed
Common Name: Common Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca
Native Status: Native to Michigan/North America
Annual/Perennial: Perennial
Planting Time: Early spring or fall
Bloom Time: June-August
Bloom Color: Pink
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Pollinators Benefited: Monarch butterflies, bees,
native wasps, hummingbirds
Wildlife Benefits: Seeds are food for birds
Companion Plants: Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot
Maintenance: Low, spreads through rhizomes
Other Notes: Toxic if ingested in large quantities
Ease of Growing: 5 (Very easy)
Growing From Seed:
- Cold
stratification for 30 days if starting in spring
- Germinates
in 2-4 weeks
- Direct
sow in late fall after first frost, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before the
last frost
- Transplant
when seedlings are 3 inches tall
- Water
regularly until established
Fun Facts:
- Historically,
the silky fibers of Milkweed were used as a substitute for kapok in life
jackets during World War II.
- It has
a milky sap that contains latex, which can be irritating to the skin.
Resources:
1.
Native Common
Milkweed - A Beginner's Guide (theplantnative.com)
2.
Grow
Milkweed, Save the Monarch Butterfly: A Step-by-Step Guide (gardenia.net)
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