Approximately 25 seeds per packet
Collected: 2024
Packaged: 2025
Germination code: C30
Please refer to our germination codes and growing information for recommendations and tips.
Seed treatment recommended: this species requires a minimum of 30 days of cold moist stratification to break its natural dormancy and encourage germination. Alternatively, sow seeds in outdoor containers in the fall or winter, with germination occuring in the spring. If seed is untreated by February, we recommend artificially moist stratifying in a fridge.
Seeds of this species appreciate being covered by a thin layer of soil or buried when sown to aid in germination. A general rule of thumb is to cover them with a layer of soil no more than two to three times their width. However, it's better to plant seeds shallow, and most seeds will germinate even if surface sown. (Optional) Sprinkling a layer of sterile sand or vermiculite overtop the soil and sown seeds usually won't negatively impact germination, and may help to maintain soil moisture and deter mold.
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) Seed Packet
Virginia ecotype
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, clumping
Size: 2-5 ft. high, half as wide
Flowering time: Jun, Jul, Aug
Bloom color: Red, pink, rose
Habitat: Wet meadows, prairies and fields; swamps and marshes
Moisture: Moist to wet, boggy or well draining
Light: Full sun, part sun
Soils: Clay, sand, loam, gravel
Uses: Pollinator gardens, rain gardens, lake/pond or riparian areasSwamp milkweed is a perennial native to North America, found in wet meadows, marshes, and along ponds and streams. It features clusters of fragrant, pink to rose flowers that bloom in mid to late summer, attracting an assortment of insects such as butterflies, bees, and moths.
Swamp milkweed grows 3-5 feet tall and prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but will tolerate average soil so long as it doesn’t dry out completely. Its deep roots help stabilize soil and manage water runoff, making it an excellent choice for pond plantings, rain gardens and wet meadows.
The plant has a white, latex-like sap and a chemical makeup that is toxic to most herbivores. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are a food source for the endangered monarch (Danaus Plexippus) butterfly; milkweeds being the only host plant species for this well-beloved pollinator. The plant also hosts the Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus), and Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), are native specialist insects which also depend on the plants and do little to no harm.
Non-aggressive clumping habit, can spread by seed if happy in its location. Young plants may need more water in higher sun, but can tolerate average soil once well-established.
Their dense root system is great for soil retention in riparian areas, but can be difficult to relocate once fully grown.