SWAMP MILKWEED

Swamp milkweed is a critical food source for Monarch caterpillars.

This Milkweed, as its name implies, grows in moisture-rich soils such as along ponds, streams, or marshes rather than proper swamps. However, it can also grow in a regular garden, for example into a hollower space to conserve moisture.

The plant reaches up to 1.5 meters high (4 ft.), and forms a clump of stems at the base that expand fan-like. The pink (sometimes white) flower clusters are on top of the stems, and the seed pods stand up vertically. The narrow and pointed leaves are opposite and form a cross when seen from the top. The roots are white and fleshy.

The root clump grows each year from new stem buds at the crown level. The plant also spreads from its seeds, each of which is attached to a silky parachute.

This milkweed can live 4-5 years in the wild. It is the only species native to Prince Edward Island, Canada.

COLLECTING THE SEEDS: Unless you want your milkweed to spread from seed all over the area around the plants, you need to deadhead the pods when they are forming.

Or, if you want to collect the seeds, the time for harvesting the pods is when they start to split open. Once the pods are fully open, it doesn’t take long before the wind will quickly disperse all those beautiful little silky parachutes.