Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)

The milkweed most people picture when they hear the word, common milkweed is a rhizomatous, easy-to-establish workhorse that anchors any large-scale Monarch habitat or pollinator meadow project, tolerating a wider range of soil conditions than most of its Asclepias relatives.

Species Overview

Asclepias syriaca, known as Common Milkweed, is a perennial plant that reaches up to five feet in height, featuring broad leaves and clusters of fragrant pink to purplish flowers that bloom from June to August. This hardy plant thrives in a range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils, and prefers full sun to partial shade. It is drought-tolerant once established, making it a low-maintenance addition to any garden.

Application

• Large-scale pollinator meadow and Monarch waystation plantings
• Prairie and meadow restoration - colonizes readily via rhizomes
• Roadside and right-of-way plantings on sandy or clay soils
• Naturalized borders and pollinator gardens where its architectural, upright form works well

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils
• Drought Tolerance: High
• Flood Tolerance: Low - Typically found in dry fields, roadsides, and disturbed ground rather than wet sites; not documented as flood tolerant.
• Growth Rate: Rapid - one of the fastest milkweeds to establish, spreading readily via rhizomes
• Plant Type: Forb
• Mature Height: 4-8 ft.
• Fall Color: Insignificant/None
• Bloom Color / Period: Pink, Purple; June-August
• Wetland Indicator Status: FACU (Facultative Upland) - Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain-adjacent region; see flags
• Native Range: Southern Canada and much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains
• Hydrology: Dry-Mesic
• Salinity Tolerance: Low
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
• Root Depth: Deep (24-36 in.)
• Growth Habit: Spreading - rhizomatous, unlike the more restrained Asclepias incarnata
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
• Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports bees, supports butterflies, supports hummingbirds, nectar source

Planting Guidance

• Seeding rate for a solid 1-acre stand: at least 15 seeds per sq. ft. (approximately 10 lb. per acre); some growers use 15-20 lb. per acre for faster coverage and weed suppression.