Asclepias Species, Common Milkweed, Butterfly Flower, Silkweed, Virginian Silkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Family
Apocynaceae (a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Asclepias (ass-KLE-pee-us)
Species
syriaca (seer-ee-AK-uh)
Synonym
Asclepias apocinum
Asclepias capitellata
Asclepias cornuti
Asclepias globosa
Asclepias grandifolia
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Rose/Mauve
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Barling, Arkansas

Mabelvale, Arkansas

Concord, California

Garden Grove, California

Richmond, California

Jupiter, Florida

Lilburn, Georgia

Potlatch, Idaho

Chicago, Illinois

Gardner, Illinois

La Grange Park, Illinois

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Quincy, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Indianapolis, Indiana

Valparaiso, Indiana

Iowa City, Iowa

Benton, Kentucky

Clermont, Kentucky

Georgetown, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Melbourne, Kentucky

Nicholasville, Kentucky

Oberlin, Louisiana

Litchfield, Maine

Pownal, Maine

Skowhegan, Maine

Brookeville, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Oakland, Maryland

Riverdale, Maryland

Valley Lee, Maryland

Billerica, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Bay City, Michigan

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Pinconning, Michigan

Duluth, Minnesota

Isle, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota(2 reports)

Minnetonka, Minnesota

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Stanchfield, Minnesota

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Cole Camp, Missouri

Helena, Montana

Greenville, New Hampshire

Frenchtown, New Jersey

Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Buffalo, New York

Croton On Hudson, New York

Glen Cove, New York

Himrod, New York

Manorville, New York

Water Mill, New York

Willsboro, New York

Efland, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Hillsborough, North Carolina

Oxford, North Carolina

Winston Salem, North Carolina

Berea, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio(2 reports)

Glouster, Ohio

Mount Orab, Ohio

Springboro, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Dayton, Oregon(2 reports)

WALTERVILLE, Oregon

Albion, Pennsylvania

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania

Millersburg, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Middletown, Rhode Island

Manning, South Carolina

Clarksville, Tennessee

Fort Worth, Texas

Round Rock, Texas

Willis, Texas

Evington, Virginia

Glen Allen, Virginia

Madison, Wisconsin

Porterfield, Wisconsin

Pulaski, Wisconsin

Racine, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

12
positives
7
neutrals
1
negative
Sort By:
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H
Watermill, NY | August 2019 | negative

I’m sorry I planted this. It’s spreading in my lawn. I’ve had it for three years now and every year it comes down with “the yello...Read More

M
Pownal, ME (Zone 5b) | July 2018 | positive

I grow three milkweeds: A. syriaca (Common) in a small field, and A. incarnata (Swamp or Pink) and A. tuberosa (Butterfly weed or Orange...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | March 2016 | neutral

As others have noted, this species is not the only host for Monarch caterpillars or adults. Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) and swamp milkwe...Read More

P
Valparaiso, IN | June 2013 | positive

Milkweed is of vital importance to Monarch butterflies.

If you are interested in Monarchs, you must check out “Bring Bac...Read More

N
Stanchfield, MN | October 2009 | positive

Common Milkweed (A. syriaca), as well as some other milkweeds, is not only a food source for the Monarch butterfly -- it is a food source...Read More

N
Cumberland, MD (Zone 6a) | August 2009 | positive

Grows wild all around here along the roads & in empty fields. I leave some volunteers grow for the butterflies & pull the ones in my way...Read More

1
Berea, OH | February 2009 | positive

We first allowed this so-called weed to remain because of its importance to monarch butterflies. We see many adults visiting our milkwee...Read More

D
(Daniel) Mount Orab, OH (Zone 6b) | November 2008 | positive

The Plant is FANTASTIC! THe flowers are extremely attractive to all butterflies (esp. Monarchs) in my area. The scent is phenomenal, ve...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | November 2006 | neutral

Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca is native to Texas and other States.

S
S
Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7b) | June 2006 | neutral

A plant of pluses and minuses as others have described. Here in central MD, I rarely have seen any monarch action on my ten-plus year, h...Read More

F
Chicago, IL (Zone 5b) | May 2006 | positive

I feel in love with milkweeds after moving to Chicago and 'rescued' one from being dug out by landscapers. Well, that one root is now po...Read More

R
Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) | January 2006 | positive

I've read that the young pods can be boiled and eaten in an emergency.

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | neutral

I like the look of Milkweed, I like the scent of its flowers, I like the butterflies it draws, but I don't like its invasiveness. I have...Read More

B
Culpeper, VA (Zone 7a) | October 2005 | neutral

This plant grows wild all over the Piedmont area of Virginia & my fields are full of it. Although I don't find the plant itself or its f...Read More

Z
Calvert County, MD (Zone 7a) | October 2005 | neutral

I haven't grown this in a garden, but from living in Rhode Island, I know it well. It seems to be a prolific spreader and has seedpods f...Read More

S
Springboro, OH (Zone 6a) | October 2004 | positive

This plant is definintely a HUGE attraction for adult Monarchs. It's important to also note that it is not only a preferred host plant, b...Read More

P
Deal, NJ (Zone 7a) | July 2004 | positive

I looooove asclepias syriaca...... it is not the best garden plant because it will take its share of space...... but if you plant it e...Read More

C
Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) | June 2004 | positive

No matter how much this plant spreads, it can't get on my bad side. I think the flowers from common milkweed are the most becomming of al...Read More

L
Evington, VA | April 2004 | positive

I have one bed that is devoted to my milkweeds. It's in my front yard. I love the blooms. You can smell them all over the front yard. ...Read More

P
Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) | January 2003 | neutral

This milkweed is common in New England and grows wild along the roadsides and in open fields. Although the flower clusters are attractive...Read More

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