Swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Clump-forming milkweed with deep pink flower umbels, suited to wet soils and pond edges. Better behaved in gardens than common milkweed.

Hardiness ratings

Swamp milkweed hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −40 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −34 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Larval food plant for the monarch butterfly — preferred in wet sites where common milkweed will not thrive
  • Tolerates boggy, seasonally flooded soil
  • Forms tidy clumps rather than running aggressively — easier to place in mixed borders

Pet caution: Swamp milkweed is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Swamp milkweed against your zones

Reference

Swamp milkweed on Wikipedia