In our yard, the swamp milkweed beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) has been a major problem. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterfliesespecially the monarch, which deposits its eggs on the milkweed. Milkweeds are found throughout North and South America, and several are cultivated as ornamentals. 'Incarnata' was likely included in the botanical name because it means flesh-coloured or flushed with pink, which describes the colour of swamp milkweed flowers. A. incarnata is commonly referred to as swamp milkweed because of its association with highly saturated soils in wetlands or areas that are flooded seasonally. RARE SPECIES . It is also much taller than other milkweeds usually reaching heights of over 1 metre (3'). Learn all about how to grow Swamp Milkweed. It is thought to have earned its name from the pink flowers it produces (“Incarnata” means “flushed with pink.”) It produces these flowers in midsummer, followed by narrow seed pods that open to reveal flat brown seeds attached to the classic white tufts associated with milkweed plants. Umbels: Red or purplish-pink. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) You might think that your wet landscaping isn't the right habitat for prairie plants like milkweed, but you're in luck --- swamp milkweed loves wet fields, marshy land and shoreline. Tropical milkweed's popularity as a landscape plant may help the monarchs regain territory. Also found in swamps, ditches and near streams, rivers and lakes. nutrition, recipes, history, uses & more! The name Asclepias is for the Ancient Greek God of medicine Asklepios; Native Americans used this and other types of milkweed as medicine for a variety of ailments; This milkweed is a ‘clay-buster’, as it can grow really well in heavy wet clay soil; This is a larval hose for Monarch Butterflies; Scientific Name Also called Swamp Milkweed, this milkweed actually grows well in both moderately moist and wet soils. I took out a horrible Norway maple, a worthless tree, and planted a birch grove. As a tall herbaceous moisture-loving perennial, Swamp milkweed seeks sunny openings of swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, and open areas along stream banks and ditches. The stems and leav… Because common milkweed tends to spread, it is best for a larger garden or meadow where you don’t mind extra plants popping up. Why not mix some birches together? Unopened flower buds, young shoots and young seed pods (harvested when 3 to 4 cm long) can be consumed in small quantities and ONLY if cooked. Bees love it, too. There are many more varieties. swamp milkweed. Swamp milkweed can be distinguished from similar milkweeds by its (typically) pink-flowered umbels positioned at the tops of the plant stalks relatively narrow leaves, and moist habitat. The plants tend to reach 2 to 4 feet (.60 to 1.2 m.) in height. Swamp milkweed, as the name suggests, grows best in moist, wetland areas. Media Marketing/Shutterstock A monarch butterfly lands on a swamp milkweed plant. Leaves are … Swamp milkweed grows (in Canada) from Manitoba to the east coast and in most continental states with the exception of west coast states. Swamp milkweed grows anywhere from 30 to 150 cm (12 to 60”) high. Diverse selection on milkweed plants include: Poke milkwed, Asclepias exaltata Swamp milkweed, A. incarnata Prairie milkweed, A. sullivantii Common milkweed, A. syriaca Butterflyweed, A. tuberosa Whorled Milkweed, A verticillata These milkweed plants have not been in … Here are a couple of tricks to ensure that your seeds are mature and viable. While we strive to be 100% accurate, it is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. It has beautiful pink and magenta blooms with cream-colored centers June-September, and plants grow 1-4 feet tall. Why Grow Milkweed Plants? Habitat. Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. Its moisture requirements are high, and it is primarily found in moist habitats such as wet meadows, floodplains, riverbanks, pond shores, stream banks, wet woods, swamps, and marshes, although it will also grow in drier areas such as prairies, fields, and roadsides. 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This robust and erect stemmed plant grows three to five feet high, and like its common milkweed cousin, exudes a milky juice when broken. It grows easily in a home garden with average to moist soil—it is nearly exploding in my own back yard in heavy clay soil. This perennial milkweed is also an excellent choice for rain gardens. Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a showy pink blooming Asclepias species that is a food plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and a nectar source for adult butterflies. The swamp milkweed plant is technically poisonous to humans and other mammals if enough of it is eaten, so it should be avoided in areas where children play or livestock forage. It is found growing in damp to wet soils and also is cultivated as a garden plant for its attractive flowers, which are visited by butterflies and other pollinators due to its copious production of nectar. When the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the leaves of milkweed. southeasternflora.com . If you plant tropical milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution. To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.). They typically form small clusters of between 10 to 20 flowers. Savanna Milkweed, Pineland Milkweed (Asclepias obovata) Craig Fraiser . All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance asks that you not buy, collect or plant this milkweed. Swamp milkweed can be easily distinguished from other milkweeds with pink flowers by its long narrow leaves. Fruits: Long, narrow and smooth follicles, changing colour from green to brownish. The flowers are very showy and good for attracting butterflies. Habitats include open to partially shaded areas in floodplain forests, swamps, thickets, moist black soil prairies, low areas along rivers and ponds, seeps and fens, marshes, and drainage ditches. Asclepias incarnata, (Swamp Milkweed). Click, All listed plants are found in central-east Canada and The opposite leaves are up to 15 cm (6") long and 4 cm (1½") across, although they are more typically half that. Swamp milkweed’s (A. incarnata) roots are the most conventional looking; they simply radiate out from the center as a clump. Leaves: Narrow, tapered, 4 to 17 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs. (See more on that below.) Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is another popular type for wet areas. The emerging caterpillars feed on the leaves. A cousin of the better-known common milkweed, swamp milkweed is an attractive flowering perennial that is native to the swamps and other wet areas of North America. We’ve been seeing many more swamp milkweed beetles the last few years. The plants spread naturally by wind-borne seeds and by creeping roots that spread out slowly under the ground. Flowers consist of 5, downward-pointing petals and a 5-part central crown that are dull pink to deep pinkish-purple. pulchra swamp milkweed Legal Status. Swamp milkweed plants can be distinguished from their other milkweed cousins both by these showy pink flowers and by their habitat, as they are the only species of milkweed that prefer to grow in wet conditions. Eradication of milkweed is a threat to the monarch butterfly. Tropical milkweed blooms during much of the year and reseeds freely. It can be found in both high quality and degraded habitats. Swamp milkweed is an erect, clump-forming, native plant which is commonly found in swamps, river bottomlands and wet meadows. What is swamp milkweed? If the pod is brown and has already popped open releasing their silky fluff, also called coma, you know that they are ready and you can harvest them and remove the fluff later. Upper leaf surfaces are medium to dark green, although they can become yellowish green or pale green due to bright sunlight and hot dry conditions. HABITAT & HARDINESS: According to the USDA, Asclepias incarnata occurs in Eastern Canada and in every state in the United States except Arizona, Mississippi and states with a Pacific coastline. How do they survive the “not-so-camouflaged” part? northern range limit of this species. I … Sign up for our newsletter. It can be found in both high quality and degraded habitats. Butterflies love it, and not just the Monarchs. Learn more about milkweed species and characteristics in this article. Swamp milkweed is the only milkweed (Asclepias) in New England that is primarily found in swamps and wet areas. north-east United States (zones 4-7), but do grow elsewhere. The long, oblong leaves are light green and grow to about 8 inches long. It is up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants listed in this web site. HABITAT: Seasonally-moist prairies & pine savannas. Swamp milkweed is one of the notable plants to be seen in the wet bottomland prairie habitat at Ripgut Prairie NA in Bates County. Swamp milkweed prefers moisture retentive through damp soils in full sun or partial shade and is typically found growing wild near the edges of ponds, lakes, streams, and low areas—or along ditches. Round clusters (umbels) of light pink flowers grow near the top of plant or at the top of brached stems. Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 3-9. Habitat: Swamp forests and alluvial woods Range: Northwest Georgia, Rare If you find this rare milkweed, let Georgia DNR know by calling 706-557-3022. General Description . Swamp milkweed needs full sun or partial shade to flourish. Range & Habitat: The native Swamp Milkweed is a fairly common plant that occurs in nearly all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). U.S. Weed Information; Asclepias incarnata . Please click here for more information. It typically grows 3-4′ tall (less frequently to 5′) on branching stems. The couple is working on making their yard a Certified Backyard Habitat, a program offered by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. It grows in a variety of moist places such as wet meadows and woods, ditches and along shorelines. Swamp milkweed – Swamp milkweed can tolerate extra water, but does well in average soil. Swamp milkweed, as the name suggests, grows best in moist, wetland areas. White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis) Shirley Denton . They will often reseed, too, but in a modest way. Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit. Bumblebees fly furiously from flower to flower, finding the aromatic and beautiful native bee balm blooms as honeybees feast on swamp milkweed in the Gibsonia garden of David and Laurie Jones. All parts considered edible must be cooked. Seeds require cold moist stratification. the Milkweed Leaf beetle) anywhere east of the Rockies and into southern Canada where milkweed grows, and note that there is variation in shade and markings from one individual to the next. Plants usually have a taproot with the root crown producing one to six or more stems each growing season. Habitats include floodplain and bottomland woodlands, swamps (including Bald Cypress swamps), borders of ponds and streams in shady areas, and ditches. Milkweed herbivore: Swamp milkweed beetle. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. EdibleWildFood.com is informational in nature. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a member of the milkweed family. Appearance. Click. swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata ssp. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Craig Fraiser . rose milkweed. It is, however, a good attractor for pollinators and a North American native, so it is a good choice for gardeners with wet sites on their property who are looking to plant responsibly. Timing is key when collecting milkweed seeds. It is one of the best attractors of the monarch butterfly, which feeds on the flowers and lays her eggs on the plants. It likes wet, clay soil, but it also prefers full sun. The plants spread naturally by wind-borne seeds and by creeping roots that spread out slowly under the ground. In some locations it is difficult to improve habitat for monarch butterflies because of the status of milkweed. Certain milkweed species are considered noxious because they can be poisonous to cattle and other livestock. Swamp Milkweed: Photo: Monarch on swamp milkweed, Dr. Tara Harris. Swamp milkweed flowers anywhere from June to September depending on location. Swamp Milkweed Facts. And swamp milkweed. Flowers are about 5 mm (1/4”) wide. Milkweed, genus of about 140 species of herbaceous perennial plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). The flower colours may vary from near white to pink to lilac, and are pleasant smelling. Swamp milkweed is a flowering mash type plant that provides color and will helpprovide insect life to any mash or rain garden. Asclepias incarnata is in the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) and is native to parts of Canada and the US. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 6, where it grows as a perennial. Roots of swamp milkweed were used in the treatment of various ailments. Monarch butterflies are rapidly declining due to loss of habitat and use of pesticides. This variety is better for smaller gardens and raised beds because it is a perennial and will grow in the same spot each year. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup. Stems are erect, stout, (some may branch) and have few, if any, hairs. The Iroquois and Meskwaki used the roots medicinally, and Menominee ate the inflorescenes, sometimes drying them … I also have woodland gardens; not just prairie. Indigenous plants are found in sunny wet areas like floodplains, river bottomland, swamps and wet meadows. The Pueblo harvested fibers from this plant and used them to make fishing line and sewing thread. There are many more varieties. Stem: Downy (hairy), from 60 to 200 cm tall. Look for the SMLB (a.k.a. Keep reading to learn more swamp milkweed info, including swamp milkweed benefits and tips for growing swamp milkweed in your landscape. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. In-depth wild edible PDFs. The leaves are either sessile or their bases clasp the stems.The leaves have a tendency to become more broad in shape in response to shady conditions. Swamp Milkweed. They point out that the most pressing threat to monarchs is extreme habitat loss. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Swamp Milkweed- Asclepias incarnata. Besides being one of the most important caterpillar host plants for Monarchs, swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, aka rose milkweed) is a great nectar source for many pollinators. Asclepias quadrifolia (Jacquin) Fourleaf Milkweed Plant Description: Solitary stems are 30-50 cm tall. Swamp milkweed. I often seem them eating the milkweed plant as soon as it emerges. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! 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