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Milkweed: The Beauty, the Legend, and the Butterflies
Milkweed has a bad rep with some as an ugly weed.
Like most legends, that bad rep contains a grain of truth, but reality is far better.
The most common milkweed grows wild and readily, sometimes scraggy, but more than 140 species of Asclepias exist -- some pretty, but almost all attractive to butterflies.
Milkweed Wildlife Benefits
Milkweed provides nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
They also act as a larval food source for the mighty Monarch, Queen, and Soldier butterflies.
Monarch & Silver Spotted Skippers on Milkweed
The alkaloids from the plant provide protection to butterflies that eat it, making the butterflies bitter tasting to predators such as birds.
The milkweed bug and milkweed beetle also make their living off Asclepias.
Caution
All parts of milkweed are poisonous to animals and birds. Some parts of some species can be poisonous to people when ingested.
Quick Tips
- Most milkweed species will grow to around 2-3 feet tall in a medium-sized container
- Growing a milkweed species native to your area is generally better for butterflies
- Host plants get EATEN by the caterpillars (butterfly larvae) -- they won't look pretty but quickly bounce back
- Most milkweed seed easily, especially within their native range
- Clip and discard seed pods to prevent volunteers
- Don't poison aphids; you'll poison butterflies, too
Common and Pretty Species
1. Asclepias syriaca (Common milkweed)
Gardeners sometimes find this pink-flowering
Surviving in zones 4-9, Asclepias syriaca is also known as common silkweed, common silkgrass, or Virginia silk and grows to 3-4 feet.
It's native to most of the U.S. east of the Rockies.
The roots may be invasive if planted in-ground.
2. Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed)
Growing 1-2 feet tall, this milkweed has colorfully orange flowers (some cultivars are more yellow or red or even a mix of colors).
Butterfly weed grows in zones 4-10, blooms June through August, and tolerates dry conditions.
3. Asclepias curassavica (Mexican milkweed)
Leaf-cutter bee on butterfly weed
The curassavica of the milkweed world is grows wild in Zones 8-10.
Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold'
Like most milkweeds, cultivars are available in various colors: yellow and red
This milkweed is also known as Bloodflower, Swallow-wort, Butterfly Weed (yes, the same as tuberosa), and Scarlet Milkweed.
4. Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Swamp milkweed grows 3-6 feet tall, with narrow, lance-shaped leaves and blooms July through August with a vanilla scent. It likes full sun and is found in Zones 3-8.
Purple-flowering Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata blooms in pink
, and the dark-pink flowering 'Soulmate', among many others.
Although swamp milkweed likes heavy, wet soil, gardeners report that it is very drought tolerant.
5. Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Showy Milkweed blooms in pink and white
It can go dormant (especially in a pot) and look terrible, but once it's established, it grows quite well.
Showy Milkweed's natural range is in the western half of the country, from North Dakota to Texas to the West Coast, but including Iowa and the Great Lakes region.
6. Asclepias perennis (Aquatic Milkweed)
A smaller milkweed at 18-24 inches tall, the white-flowering Aquatic Milkweed grows in zones 6-9.
As its common name suggests, this milkweed is native to wetlands and needs consistently moist soil to thrive.
7. Asclepias variegata (White Milkweed, Redring milkweed)
Growing in Zone 4 and warmer zones, this milkweed grows to 2 feet. The flowers are a luscious white, with a wine-colored ring at the base of the flower's hood.
Unlike most milkweeds, Asclepias variegata likes shade.
Asclepias variegata is native to eastern North America, including Texas. It likes lean soils and does not like moist, fertile soil.
