Showy Milkweed is a native perennial herb that grows 2-5 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. It has large blue-green leaves covered in silver hairs and produces showy pink or white flowers in dense heads from May to August that are very attractive to butterflies and birds. Showy Milkweed is easy to grow in full sun or part shade in most soil types as long as it is well-watered the first year, and it requires little other care once established.

1. Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa (ass-KLE-pee-us spee-see-OH-suh)
Family: Asclepidaceae (Milkweed family)
Native to: Much of western N. America & throughout CA; open areas on banks and flood plains of
lakes, ponds, or waterways or moist areas in prairies on sandy, loamy, or rocky soils.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 2-5 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Pretty herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground in fall/winter. Leaves large, blue green
with velvety silver hairs. Spreads via rhizomes. Note: foliage of all Milkweeds is toxic. This species
is less toxic than others, and native peoples even ate young boiled seedpods in moderation.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in summer (May-July or Aug.). As name suggests, flowers are very showy
– looks more like a garden plant than a wildflower. Large (4-5 in.) dense heads of small pink/white
flowers with characteristic Milkweed shape. Very fragrant – nice addition to a scented garden!
Uses in the garden: Pretty enough for any mixed flower bed; hardy enough for natural areas once
established. Excellent choice for areas that get a little extra winter water like rain gardens, bio-
swales, etc. A must for butterfly gardens. Can make paper, fiber from dried stems.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Milkweeds.
Attracts: Excellent habitat for Monarch Butterfly larva and other insects. Birds use fibers for nests.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun (best) to part-shade.
Soil Any local soil – very adaptable to all but the heaviest clays.
Water Water well first summer; after that zone 1-2 to 2-3 (very occasional to occasional)
water. Good for planting next to Zone 3 (regular water).
Fertilizer None needed; light fertilizer won’t kill it.
Other
Management: Quite hardy and easy once established. Plant seedlings/plants when small and don’t
move established plants (they have a deep taproot). Will spread via rhizomes & seeds.
Propagation: from seed: easy; no treatment by divisions: carefully, when dormant
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 8, 11, 19, 24 1/25/11
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