Milkweed- Swamp (Ascelpias incarnata) (Florida Native)

Milkweed- Swamp

Asclepias incarnata

Asclepias incarnata, the swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, rose milkflower, swamp silkweed, or white Indian hemp, is a herbaceous perennial plant species native to North America. It puts out a generous amount of pink to purple vanilla scented flowers in late Spring to Summer. Asclepias incarnata is quite common and is considered an important food source for the Monarchs as they start their spring migration northward. Swamp Milkweed can adapt to almost any Florida soil type. Save the well amended areas for the fruits and veggies. Native to most of the US, Swamp Milkweed is very heat and mildly drought tolerant when established, however it needs regular watering throughout it's early days. It prefers and tolerates very moist areas for long periods of time, making this a great choice for Florida gardens. They adapt well to low lying pastures and ditches. Direct sow in the Fall to let the seeds over-winter for a Spring and Summer bloom. If planting seeds in the late Winter or Spring, the seeds need 2-4 weeks of cold/wet stratification. Swamp Milkweed forms a cluster of 3-5" long tuber like roots, which it will come back from year after year.