Swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A monarch host that doesn't wander; happy in damp soil.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 4 ft tall, 2 ft wide
From: E. and central North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas, Rockies & Great Basin, Eastern Canada. Hardy in zones 3 to 8.
The story
Swamp milkweed is the well-behaved milkweed. It grows in a clump, doesn't run, and its pink flowers smell of vanilla. Monarchs laying eggs seem to choose it over almost any other.
Planting
Full sun and moist to wet soil, though ordinary garden soil will do if you water.
Growing
Keep it from drying out in summer. Leave the stems over winter; orioles strip the fibers for nests.
Harvest and use
Nectar for a crowd of butterflies and food for monarch caterpillars. The silky seed fluff is fun to let go in fall.
What to watch for
Aphids. The milky sap irritates skin and eyes.
See if Swamp milkweed fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home