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Showy Pink Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

$13.59
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per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
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ZONES  3-9 | Good to grow! Zone
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Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) is an essential wildflower for supporting Monarch butterflies by providing food for caterpillars and nectar for the adult butterflies. 3-4 ft. tall x 24-30" wide.
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Description

3-4 ft. tall x 3 ft. wide. Showy Pink Milkweed variety is an essential wildflower for supporting Monarch butterflies by providing food for caterpillars and nectar for the adult butterflies. The plant blooms in the summer with big globes of fragrant pink flowers. Spreading via underground runners, pink milkweed can be a little too aggressive for formal perennial beds. This plant is best planted in less used areas where is can spread without overrunning less vigorous annuals and perennials. It's recommended for areas of your property that collect water after a good rain. More easily grown than the Orange Butterfly Weed, this is an excellent plant for beginning gardeners. Native Range: AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY. Seed propagated. 3-4' tall x 3 ft." wide.

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.
  1. Need sandy or gravelly soils (except the Clay form which does well in heavier soils including dry clay.)
  2. Does best with gravel mulches.
  3. After their second growing season, only requires deep but infrequent watering. Plant in full hot sun.
  4. 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.

Special comments:

  • 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.

Preferred growing conditions:

  1. These species grow in a wide range of soil types, including clay.
  2. They don't need mulching (except in very hot climates).
  3. These are moisture-loving perennials and do well in wet to moderately moist soil conditions.
  4. Plant in full to part sun areas.
  5. They like compost enriched soils at planting time.

Special comments:

  • 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.

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:

  1. Fertilize Asclepias just once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II. - Naturalized plantings don't need additional fertilization.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (801) 769-0300 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Low-Water

Bloom Time

Mid to late summer

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Birds
  • Native
  • Long Bloom Time
  • Naturalizes
  • Fragrant
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

3-4' tall

Mature Spread

24-30" wide

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Clay Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Moist / Wet

Planting Time

  • Fall

Native To

North America

Growing Zones

  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9

Neonicotinoid Free

Yes

Can Send To PO Box

No

Ships to Hawaii & Alaska

No

Overall rating: 3.9 / 5 from 10 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

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Review highlights

Reviews

It didn't go well. Showy Pink Milkweed - Flat of 9.

"I wouldn't order them again. The plants didn't look good/strong when they arrived. I thought they would rebound after planting."

— Dave (2/5)

this plant came with 2 leaves one of which was wilted

"Agastaches are doing well as is the Raspberry wine bee balm and Purple coneflower and Blue Hill Meadow Sage"

— Dee (1/5)

Monarch butterfly garden initiated

"I'm starting a butterfly garden to attract and give them a place to eat and hopefully get lots of cocoons some day. Right now it's small but my snowy milkweed plants are growing quick."

— Spi (5/5)

Yes

"I was surprised after a brutal winter that all 5 of the cuttings survived and came up in the spring! They are doing well, even have more than one shoot!"

— Erin (5/5)

Slow to develop.

"It is planted in a flower bed. Still growing but has not developed any blooms."

— John (3/5)

Doing well and growing strong

"One single plant came in a small pot this spring. I was a little concerned but it looked healthy overall. I planted it and watched it slowly die down. . . . to my surprise it grew two shoots and is now happily growing tall and stronger than ever. I. Looking forward to it continue to grow and eventually flower."

— Prairierose (5/5)

I love to see how the Monarchs truly need this plant.

"I actually learned from a Monarch expert that I do not need to wait until fall to plant the asclepias seeds. I put them in jar with water and put the jar in the refrigerator for 8 days, thus giving them the 'winter' condition they need to sprout."

— Kitty (5/5)

Plants died

"This is the second time I ordered plants and out of the four I ordered two died. Last order the only plant that lived to bloom was the Bee Balm."

— KimRN (3/5)

Really Happy

"Arrived after a very long shipping delay, healthy and ready for planting. Even after dropping one of the containers on the floor and spilling the plant completely out of the soil, it transplanted well. One was moderately sized and one was very tiny (the one that spilled), and both are already growing quickly."

— Alicia (5/5)

Doing well

"I have purchased both the orange butterfly weed and the showy pink milkweed and both have done well. Both were slow to grow the first year, but haven't disappointed even through a 2 yr drought and 3 late spring snows. They are doing well at 7800' above sea level. It is mid June and both have flower heads forming. They definitely attract butterflies and bloom all summer. I do use drip irrigation on a 4 day rotation. I leave some of the seed heads on through the winter for interest, but they also make great fall dried flower arrangements. HCG is a very reliable supplier and have replaced damaged in shipping and one failure to thrive plant. I am very satisfied."

— High G. (5/5)

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