Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

About Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) 76 Nurseries Carry This Plant

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Showy milkweed is native to much of the western half of North America. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. This flowering plant is a hairy, erect perennial that grows to about 4 feet tall. The large, pointed, banana-like leaves are arranged opposite on the stalk-like stem. The fragrant eye-catching furry pale pink to pinkish-purple flowers are arranged in thick umbels. Their petal structure is reflexed and the central flower parts, five hoods with prominent hooks, are star-shaped. The fruit is a large, rough follicle filled with many flat oval seeds with luxuriant silky plumes. It spreads by underground rhizomes, forming an expanding clump. Many Native American peoples utilized all parts of this plant for a great number of medicinal uses and ate some parts as a food. Showy Milkweed is popular with birds and insects, notably the Monarch butterfly. Alkaloids inside the plant are picked up by the caterpillars and give them protection by making them taste awful to predators.

Plant Description

Plant Type

Perennial herb

Size

4 - 6 ft tall
4 ft wide

Form

Upright, Spreading, Upright Columnar

Growth Rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Fragrance

Fragrant - Pleasant

Flower Color

White, Pink, Purple

Flowering Season

Summer

Wildlife Supported

Butterflies, especially Monarchs, are attracted to all milkweeds. Many other insects are also attracted.
Butterfly gardens

Butterflies & moths hosted ( 1 confirmed

, 4 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Monarch Danaus plexippusDanaus plexippus

Queen Danaus gilippusDanaus gilippus

Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabellaPyrrharctia isabella

Clio Tiger Moth Ectypia clioEctypia clio

Hitched Arches Melanchra adjunctaMelanchra adjuncta

Landscaping Information

Sun

Full Sun

Moisture

Low

Summer Irrigation

Max 2x / month once established

Nurseries

Carried by 76

Ease of Care

Very Easy

Cold Tolerance

Tolerates cold to -5° F

Soil Drainage

Fast, Medium

Soil Description

Tolerates clay soil but performs best with good drainage. Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.5

Common uses

Butterfly Gardens, Deer Resistant, Bird Gardens

Maintenance

If a clump becomes too large, excess rootstock can be pruned during the winter when the plant is dormant

Propagation?

from seed there are two options A. Place the seeds on a bowl with lid in some water or a damp paper towel and place in the fridge for a few weeks or until sprouted. When sprouted place the sprouts flat on their sides into some damp soil. Cover with a very thin layer of soil. These plants should be planted directly into the ground. They don't transplant well due to long roots (rhizomes) B. Throw seeds onto desired area during the cold months of the year and allow the rain to water them Plant in full sun

Sunset Zones?

1, 2*, 3*, 4, 5, 6*, 7*, 8*, 9*, 10*, 14*, 15*, 16, 17, 18*, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Natural Setting

Site Type

Flats, meadows, seasonally moist soils, typically in mountainous areas, although it is also found in the central valley

Climate

Annual Precipitation: 4.9" - 99.5", Summer Precipitation: 0.22" - 2.81", Coldest Month: 26.6" - 50.5", Hottest Month: 49.6" - 76.3", Humidity: 0.35" - 30.15", Elevation: 17" - 7825"

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Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links: Jepson eFlora Taxon Page CalPhotos Wikipedia Calflora

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

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Showy MilkweedAsclepias speciosa

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Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa