General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Wet meadows, swamps, riverbanks, freshwater marshes, and ditches
Native States: Widespread in eastern and central North America, including Florida
Growing Zones: 3-9
Size at Maturity: 3-5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
Phenology: Winter dormant
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Growth Habit: Upright, clumping
Bloom Season: Summer to early fall
Bloom Color: Pink to mauve
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full-Part
Soil Texture: Loam, clay, sand (prefers moist, rich soils)
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Moisture Requirements: Moist to wet, tolerates occasional drying
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low/None
Keystone Plant: Yes
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Rain gardens, pollinator gardens, wetland restoration, pond edges, butterfly gardens
Maintenance Tips: Cut back in late winter to promote fresh growth; tolerates wet soils but does not thrive in prolonged drought
Considerations: May spread by rhizomes in favorable conditions; attracts aphids, which can be managed by beneficial insects
Hurricane Wind Resistant: No (tall stems may bend or break in strong winds)
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Other Information
Edible: Caution (toxic in large quantities due to cardiac glycosides)
Pet Safe: No (toxic if ingested)
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Moderate resistance
Historical Medicinal Uses: Used historically by Native Americans for treating respiratory and digestive ailments, as well as skin conditions
Florida Native Companion Plant: Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius), Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
Wildlife Benefit: Highly attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes (Monarch butterfly, Queen butterfly)
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings, division
Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
Plant Conditions
Sun: Full sun to dappled shade
Height: 3'-5' Tall
Spacing: 1 1/2 - 2' apart
pH: Acidic 5.5-7.5
Soil: Moist to occasionally inundated soils
Salt Tolerance: Tolerant
Drought Tolerance: Tolerant
Native Status: Yes
Bloom Season: Mid Summer
Bloom Color: Fragrant pink to mauve blooms
Life Span: Perennial
Growth Habit: Clumping
Host: Monarch and Queen butterfly
Nectar: Yes
Wildlife Benefit: Provides important nectar and shelter for wildlife, and its seed pods are a food source for birds.
Propagation: The best way to propagate Swamp Milkweed is by division or cuttings. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dry place and remain viable for up to three years. Seeds do not require cold stratification but germination rates may increase with cold stratification. Or sow seeds in the fall.
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