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Ice Ballet Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'

$13.59
$13.59 $16.99
per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
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ZONES  3-9 | Good to grow! Zone
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Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' (Swamp Milkweed) lights up the mid-summer garden with vanilla scented, pillowy clusters of snow-white flowers. Deep green foliage and white flowers that bloom from mid-summer to fall are the perfect backdrop for brightly colored butterflies that visit each summer. A pollinator-favorite, especially for Monarch butterflies, this easy-care milkweed is happy in a sunny spot with moist soil.
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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.
  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

  • Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade
  • Full Sun

Bloom Time

Mid to late summer

Advantages

  • Native
  • Naturalizes
  • Cut Flowers
  • Fragrant
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

36-48" tall

Mature Spread

18-24" wide

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Compost Enriched Garden Loam 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

Ships As

Potted Plant

Can Send To PO Box

No
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Overall rating: 4.6666665 / 5 from 9 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: [plant, attraction, flowers, blossoms].

Review highlights

Reviews

Nice healthy plant, pretty flowers. Great in my rain garden

"I planted this in my new rain garden/bioswales in fall when it arrived. For a long time it was dormant and looked like it was just a stick, but then it took off. It is happy and healthy and the blossoms are attractive."

— Alive N. (5/5)

Not What I expected

"The plants appear to be healthy, but they have not bloomed. They don't look like the plants in the photo."

— Teresa (3/5)

Very nice plant

"I grow exclusively in containers with MiracleGrow potting soil, and exclusively for pollinators, primarily bees of all types. This plant grew rapidly to become a heathy, strong, multi-stemmed bright green three foot tall attraction despite being in only a four gallon bucket ! It should be in the ground or in a raised bed, but it is very attractive. It only put out a few small white blossoms, but I am growing it primarily for Monarch caterpillars to eat, which I get every year on other Asclepias. Like all others in this family, it is a favorite of orange aphids, which can take over if not managed continuously. To avoid hurting other pollinators, I crush the aphids when possible, and only use a short-acting pyrethrin narrow spray at night when necessary. I have had trouble growing other Asclepias in the past, but this one is phenomenal ! I would highly recommend it to Monarch supporters."

— Dr D. (4/5)

Excellent plant

"Shipped in April, planted in a four gallon bucket using MiracleGrow potting soil. Grew rapidly, now (in mid-June) it is 48"" tall. Grows upward with several narrow stalks and attractive leaves. Seems to prefer about four hours of full sun. No pests - aphids have not yet been seen. Getting ready to bloom"

— Dr D. (5/5)

Love this plant!

"I've noticed my ice ballets this year have suffered from the drought and heat and the flowers are not as large or numerous. It's a touch year (2022) for Utah plants. Normally these are very hearty and the flowers are large and gorgeous. Wonderful plants!"

— Sassy (5/5)

Great milkweed

"This milkweed arrived healthy and has grown a lot! It is healthy and the buds are about to open. I saw a monarch in my yard the other day, which I haven't seen for years, so it's working to attract them back!"

— SK (5/5)

Monarch favorite

"monarch butterfly will be attracted to milkweed plants."

— Sis (5/5)

Attracts lots of Monarchs

"A fantastic attractant for Monarch butterflies. Planted near Buddleia ""Butterfly Bushes"". In our first full season after planting, we have lots of caterpillars feeding. In contrast, we have an Asclepias Tuberosa in our front yard which has orange flowers, and seems to attract flies but no Monarchs. The plant seems to attract some other kind of bug as well, similar to ladybugs, and the proximity to the caterpillars precludes using an insecticide. If you want Monarchs, this is the plant to get. See pics. . ."

— Big J. (5/5)

For the Butterflies

"It doesn't seem fazed by the 90 degree temps and is about to bloom."

— Kay (5/5)

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