How do you identify Swamp Milkweed?
Swamp milkweed’s smooth narrow leaves are lance-shaped with sharp tips and occur in pairs. Sometimes the leaf’s edges turn inward and upward suggesting the prow of a ship. The fragrant umbelled clusters of flowers range in color from soft mauve to pink to reddish-violet. Compared to its common and showy counterparts, swamp milkweed’s leaves are narrower and its flower clusters are more delicate and compact. Once you settle on your milkweed types, you may be able to find them via a local or regional nursery.In contrast, milkweed, a perennial plant with a lifespan of 8 to 10 years, is native to much of North America. When growing a crop like milkweed, soils are covered for a long period of time.Though not aggressive, swamp milkweed competes well and adds a nice splash of color to midsummer landscapes. It makes a great garden plant in sufficiently moist sites, preferring full sun to part shade. It will tolerate mesic upland locations — even clay soils that are watered regularly when conditions are dry.The answer is, it depends. Annual vs. Asclepias Physocarpa pictured above, you can scatter the open seed pods around the soil and cut the stalks down to the ground.
Is milkweed good for anything?
Generalized medicinal uses for milkweed species include 1) its use in a salve for scrofulous swelling, 2) as a diarrhea medicine, 3) drunk by mothers unable to produce milk, 4) medicine for snow blindness and other forms of blindness, 5) relief of sore throat, 6) applied chewed root for swelling and rashes, 7) to expel . Medicinal Uses In 1892, Charles Millspaugh recorded the early medical history of butterfly milkweed, also known as pleurisy root. He stated that it is a proven remedy for certain forms of dry coryza, indigestion, colic, diarrhea, dry coughs, pleurisy, rheumatic pains, and some skin affections (1974, p.
How poisonous is milkweed to humans?
When milkweed is swallowed, symptoms of toxicity usually appear within a few hours. Initial symptoms consist of stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion. Symptoms of severe toxicity include seizures, heart rhythm changes, and severe slowing of the heart rate. As its name suggests, Swamp Milkweed thrives in moist to wet soil conditions. However, it can also tolerate well-drained soils. Ensure your garden soil is rich in organic matter and has good drainage to prevent waterlogging, especially if you don’t have naturally moist conditions.Joe-Pye Weed is an excellent companion for Swamp Milkweed, thriving in the same wetland conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade, making it easy to integrate into your garden. This plant is a magnet for pollinators, providing nectar for butterflies and bees.Plants that require shade or even partial sun and plants that need damp soil or frequent watering will not do well in the same area as milkweed. Plants like hosta, coral bells, and Joe Pye weed will do best in another area of a yard or outdoor space.Despite milkweed’s toxicity, there are many creatures other than monarchs that eat the leaves of this amazing plant. Deer and rabbits have been reported to eat milkweed leaves, and there are many other insects that feed on milkweed such as milkweed bugs, tussock moths, queen butterfly larvae, and more.Common milkweed grows quickly and spreads fast, so it’s a great addition to any empty spaces in your yard that you’d like to brighten up. It can also fill an area that is hard to reach, like between a garage and a fence.
What is the difference between swamp milkweed and common milkweed leaves?
Compared to its common and showy counterparts, swamp milkweed’s leaves are narrower and its flower clusters are more delicate and compact. Once you settle on your milkweed types, you may be able to find them via a local or regional nursery. Try the Xerces Society’s Milkweed Seed Finder to see what’s nearby. Milkweeds are perennial plants, which means an individual plant lives for more than one year, growing each spring from rootstock and seeds rather than seeds alone. In the Midwest, milkweeds were historically common and widespread on prairies, but habitat destruction has reduced their range and numbers.These native milkweed are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. Their aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem) die back but their rootstock remains alive throughout the winter.Sowing Milkweed Seeds is Easy! Seeding can occur between October and June, but should not be completed during the summer months. Once the seed is broadcast, work the seed into the soil to a depth of 1/8th inch. This can be accomplished by flipping over a garden rake and lightly moving the seed and the soil/mulch.Under most conditions, when a common milkweed stem is cut off near ground level, in about two weeks a new shoot will appear from the roots. These new shoots are highly attractive to female monarchs, receiving two to 10 times more eggs than older stems.
Where is the best place to plant Swamp Milkweed?
As its name suggests, Swamp Milkweed thrives in moist to wet soil conditions. However, it can also tolerate well-drained soils. Ensure your garden soil is rich in organic matter and has good drainage to prevent waterlogging, especially if you don’t have naturally moist conditions. Swamp milkweed thrives in moist, medium to wet clay soil but can also do well in average garden soil if kept moist. Wet meadows or rain gardens offer ideal conditions.I applaud your trying to save this little plant, upon which so many monarch butterflies depend. In general, transplanting of Milkweed should be done in the spring during cooler weather. These plants like roughly 6 hours of sun daily and a well draining soil.Growing Milkweeds from Cuttings The stems should be placed in sand, vermiculite, or potting soil that is kept continuously moist. Cuttings can usually be transplanted in 6-10 weeks. Survival is best when cuttings are made from green stems (1/3 inch diameter) obtained from plants fertilized two weeks earlier.Adding milkweed to your garden isn’t just an investment in beauty—it’s a way to support monarch butterflies and other pollinators. By planting at least five milkweed plants, you can create a welcoming habitat for monarchs while enjoying the vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms these plants offer.