Skip to product info
SALE
Ships in FALL

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

$13.59
$13.59 $16.99
per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
Sale | Save 20%
ZONES  3-9 | Good to grow! Zone
Bulk Savings - Buy More, Save More!
No shipping data More Information
Asclepias syriaca 'Common Milkweed' is a gorgeous plant that produces purple/pink flower clusters that wildflower gardeners love and spreads quickly. This native perennial is a primary food source for the Monarch butterfly providing large leaves for caterpillars and big pink globe-like flowers that provide nectar for the adult butterflies. Planting it will help to support Monarch populations. Perennial.
Videos
     

More Like This

Description

Asclepias syriaca 'Common Milkweed' is a very familiar plant to many eastern gardeners. This perennial is perfect as a filler between your taller perennials and adds a nice touch of fragrance mid-late summer. The foliage is thick and glossy so it adds texture to help your garden look lush even in the peak of the summer! Native to the US from Canada to Georgia, and west to Texas. Reseeds in fall but is very easy to harvest. Clip off the seed pods before they open to help control growth but be sure to leave the foliage!


Common Milkweed is vital for the survival of the Monarch Butterfly which their population has been in a slow decline over the years. The large leaves are an essential food plant for Monarch caterpillars. Watch as the eggs hatch and larvae grow into the signature yellow striped caterpillars. Planting this perennial is a wonderful way to bring more excitement to your garden while also helping our native pollinators to thrive! ("Butterfly Weed" is a close relative, with bright orange flowers.) The plants spread vigorously by underground roots and should be planted inside areas of your landscape where it can be allowed to spread without overrunning other ornamental perennials. Ditches, fence lines and other areas with average to damp soils are ideal. 36-48" tall x 24-30" wide.


Asclepias syriaca Native Range: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS, MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV.

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

No shipping data

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.

View

Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Low-Water

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Native
  • Naturalizes
  • Low Maintenance
  • Cut Flowers
  • Fragrant
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

3-4' tall

Mature Spread

24-30" wide

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Clay Soil
  • Sandy Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Moist / Wet

Planting Time

  • Fall

Growing Zones

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

Ships As

Potted Plant

Can Send To PO Box

No

Ships to Hawaii & Alaska

No

Overall rating: 4.375 / 5 from 8 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["look","problem","plant","seeds"].

Review highlights

Reviews

"Came little more than roots in soil. I wouldn't call this a "plant. " Not satisfied with this purchase at all, for over $20."

— Crystal (1/5)

We are so excited my

"We are so excited my sister ordered one and it didn’t make it. These stand a chance because they were sent at the right planting time"

— Cindy K. (5/5)

Needs patience, extremely hardy!

"Received five of these plants a year ago. The first season they grew about half a foot and some never came up BUT! This year all of them and more came up strong and grew about a foot with nice leathery leaves! They attract yellow aphids but a little isopropyl alcohol takes care of them. Grow a patch for the Monarch Butterflies!"

— Hunter (4/5)

Common milkweed in raised beds?

"I have raised beds 3 feet off the ground. Live in zone upper zone 7. Will the survive the winter or should I plant them in the garden? These were the best most viable seeds I have ever had."

— Karen (5/5)

Milkweed is doing fantastic. Love it!

"Monarch butterflies!"

— Doug (5/5)

Patience and procrastination pay off

"We planted six of these in late summer 2020. The plants arrived not looking healthy and then up and ""died"" soon after planting. Never had that problem with plants from this nursery. HCG gave us a credit and the wife and I decided to use the credit for a spring order in 2021. We procrastinated using the credit the next spring, which turned out for the better. There was life left in the rootstock of these milkweeds. 5 of the 6 plants came up and grew well in 2021. That was good a enough response for us, so never used the credit. They did not flower the first growing season. Expect they will in 2022 and also they should start spreading around after getting established."

— JBates (5/5)

milkweed

"The milkweed came packed really well. It transplanted well into a pot and started growing quickly. I waited a good while before reviewing to see how it grew and it looks really good and healthy! No issues. It's still growing and hasn't bloomed, but it'll be ready for the pollinators soon. This was my firat purchase from high country gardens and I'm very happy. Will definitely order again."

— Cat (5/5)

Too many Monarch catepillars

"The plants performed very well. I have read they should be covered with a net the first year so they could become established. The nets are ugly and the plants were so vigorous I didn't think it was necessary. 1 plant had 16 leaves when the little black spots showed up. The caterpillars ate every leaf. Nine caterpillars per plant is too many."

— Ronnie J. (5/5)

Q&A

Your Recently Viewed