Showy milkweed seeds are best planted in well-drained soil in the fall to allow for natural stratification. Sow about 4 cm apart and top with soil just enough to cover the seeds. Germination is slow.
Thin the small first year seedlings the following spring and keep weeded. Once established, showy milkweed requires minimal care and thrives in full sun with low to moderate water, making it ideal for meadows and ecological restoration projects.
Best grown from local source-identified seed to support local adaptation and resilience. We discourage the movement of seeds and plants from other areas for the potential of badly adapted genetics and the spread of seed-borne diseases.
Scientific Name: Asclepias speciosa
Plant Family: Apocynaceae
Flower Colour: Pink, white
Flowering Months: June, July
Height (feet): up to 1.25 m (5 ft)
Lifespan: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry to Moist
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Pollinator Value: High
Benefits To Pollinators: Larval host plant for endangered Monarch and "pollinator magnet" for many large bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and others