Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Botanical plate of Asclepias incarnata — Curtis-style illustration.
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.
Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Asclepias incarnata |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Height | 3-5 ft |
| Bloom time | Jun-Aug |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Moisture | Mesic to wet |
| Soil | Muck, loam |
| Wildlife value | Monarch host; the best-behaved milkweed for gardens, and it takes normal garden soil too |
Mentioned In
- Ecoregions Growing Conditions
- Prairie Plants Grasslands
- Wetland Shoreline Plants
- Pollinators Wildlife
- Ecological Restoration
Image Credits
- ThatLexingtonKyGuy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (GFDL 1.2)