Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Soft pink clusters from July into August in rain gardens, pond edges, and wet spots. A monarch host that stays well-behaved in borders.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
The monarch host plant for wet gardens. fragrant, elegant, and functional where drainage is a challenge.
Swamp Milkweed is the milkweed for the wet garden. While other milkweeds struggle in boggy conditions, this one thrives: in rain gardens, pond margins, stream banks, and any consistently moist spot where drainage is poor. The flowers are a lovely soft pink in flat-topped clusters from July through August, carrying that characteristic milkweed sweetness, and monarchs use it as a host plant exactly as they do common milkweed. The upright, lance-leaved stems stay clean and attractive all season, and the plant doesn't spread as aggressively as common milkweed, making it more suitable for moderate-sized garden spaces. The narrow, elegant seed pods in fall are ornamental. This is the version to grow if you have wet areas to manage and want to combine ecological function with genuine ornamental quality.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown swamp milkweed propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 3–4 ft · 24–30 in wide
- Bloom time
- Midsummer
- Bloom color
- Pink
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Native range
- Eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida, west to Utah
Care notes for swamp milkweed.
Plant in full sun to part shade in moist to wet soil. Ideal for rain gardens and pond margins. Does not tolerate dry conditions as well as other milkweeds. Cut back in late fall. Spreads moderately by self-seeding. Divide every few years in spring if clumps become crowded. Consistent moisture produces the best performance.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside swamp milkweed.
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