Ice Ballet Swamp Milkweed
Other zones shipping soon.
Description
Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' (Swamp Milkweed) is a pollinator-favorite, and its leaves are essential food for Monarch butterfly larvae. Sun-loving and not picky about soils, ‘Ice Ballet’ will do well in low areas, rain gardens, meadows, and perennial beds where their height of 3-4' sets the stage for the other colors of summer. Try planting them with Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Salvia, and Agastache for a tall naturalizing garden to attract a variety of pollinators. You will be mesmerized by the buzzing and fluttering visitors! The seed pods are fun to watch as they open to release their silky seeds. Cut them when the pods are still tightly closed for dried flower arrangements.
Planting Care
Asclepias (Milkweed) are sun loving plants that are essential perennials for monarch butterflies providing food for caterpillars and nectar for adult butterflies. They bloom from mid-summer into early fall and, with their milky sap, are resistant to rabbits and deer.
Asclepias can be divided into two groups for plant care; Asclepias tuberosa with orange (sometimes yellow) flowers and all the other species with pink (sometimes white) flowers.
- Asclepias tuberosa (Orange Butterfly Weed) - this perennial stays dormant until later in the spring than many other plants, especially when grown in pots. It's fine to plant dormant plants; don't up-pot them for planting later in the growing season.
- Need sandy or gravelly soils (except the Clay form which does well in heavier soils including dry clay.)
- Does best with gravel mulches.
- After their second growing season, only requires deep but infrequent watering. Plant in full hot sun.
- Just a few handfuls of compost and Yum Yum Mix added to the planting hole is enough. Don't plant into a rich, highly-amended soil.
- When planting dormant plants, water thoroughly after planting and wait to water again until the plant comes into active growth, at which time a deep watering every week or so is adequate. Take care not to overwater young transplants.
- Asclepias has a long, carrot-like tap root that should remain undisturbed after planting and should NOT ever be divided.
- Most Asclepias species are late to wake up in the spring, and will often be shipped as dormant plants. Don't despair if your milkweed is asleep. The white roots and woody crown are alive just waiting for consistently warm weather to wake up and begin to grow.these perennial species stay dormant later in the spring than many other plants, especially when they are grown in pots. It's fine to plant dormant plants; don't up-pot them for planting later in the growing season.
- These species grow in a wide range of soil types, including clay.
- They don't need mulching (except in very hot climates).
- These are moisture-loving perennials and do well in wet to moderately moist soil conditions.
- Plant in full to part sun areas.
- They like compost enriched soils at planting time.
- Asclepias syriaca and A. speciosa will spread to make big patches of plants and are best planted in parts of the landscape where they won't crowd out less vigorous plants. Not recommended for the prime spots in your perennial beds.
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) is a more refined grower and is fine to include in perennial beds.
Preferred growing conditions:
Special comments:
Preferred growing conditions:
Special comments:
Oftentimes, Milkweeds won't grow much their first season in the ground, so be patient. They are establishing their root system and crown. By the second growing season, the plants will begin to get bigger and look more robust. Asclepias species are an odd bunch and don't behave like many other more familiar perennials. So be patient and accept their quirky nature.
Garden care:
- Fertilize Asclepias just once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II. - Naturalized plantings don't need additional fertilization.
- To encourage re-seeding and provide winter interest with their ornamental seed pods, leave the stems intact over the winter. In mid-spring, remove old stems just above ground level.
- All species of Asclepias are late to emerge in the spring, so don't be concerned if other perennials come up first and they remain dormant.
Shipping Info
Zone | Shipping Status |
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Zone 2 | Shipping begins the week of May 13th, 2024 |
Zone 3 | Shipping begins the week of May 13th, 2024 |
Zone 4 | Shipping begins the week of May 13th, 2024 |
Zone 5 | Shipping begins the week of April 29th, 2024 |
Zone 6 | Shipping begins the week of April 15th, 2024 |
Zone 7 | Now Shipping |
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