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Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Other common name(s):

Pink Milkweed

Family:

Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Wetland

Height

2
to
5
ft.

Spread

2
to
5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Acid, Rich, Moist, Neutral, Mud

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Larval Host, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Swamp milkweed will inevitably have aphids. The insects are not a problem unless the plant looks sick; at that point an effective treatment is to spray the plant and aphids with soapy water. Another possible treatment is to support the plant part with your hand and blast it with high-pressure water. Set up a pond or a water collection tank near a downspout to supplement water. Propagation: Seeds, Clump division.

Comments

Blooms June-October. With its showy pink flower clusters that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, swamp milkweed is underutilized in gardens. In moist soils or in a pond, it will thrive. The interesting seed pods look like other milkweeds. Good for wetland gardens and habitat. Larval Host: Monarch and Queen butterflies.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASIN. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Asclepias+incarnata&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=1413&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=30241#null

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