Swamp Milkweed Flesh-colored Asclepias. Swamp Silkweed. Rose-colored Silkweed.

Description

Leaf: very leafy; leaves opposite, petiolate, oblong, lanceolate, hairy, acute, cordate at base, 4 to 7 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide.

Flower: flowers rose-purple, fragrant, disposed in terminal-crowded umbels two to six on a peduncle 2 inches long, consisting of ten to twenty small flowers.

Fruit: pods smooth

Roots: rhizome oblong, 1 inch in diameter, knotty, surrounded with rootlets, 4 to 6 inches long, yellow-brown externally, white internally.

Bark: bark thin

Form: A herb growing in wet places, flowering in the United States in July and August. Stem erect, smooth, with two downy lines above, about 2 1/2 feet high, branched above.

Discussion

Milkweed plants (Asclepias) are the host plants for Monarch butterflies...but milkweed is also a highly sought nectar source for many other butterfly species! Aside from attracting Monarch butterflies for egg-laying, milkweed entices swallowtails, painted ladies, American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectaring.
Milkweed also draws hummingbirds and hummingbird clearwing moths to the garden for nectar.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The swamp milkweed plant is yellow brown and flowers pink or white.

Distribution

Grows in any moderately warm, moist location.

Images

July: whole plant, leaf (front and back), flower