Asclepias speciosa is a milky-sapped perennial plant in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), known commonly as the showy milkweed, and is found in the Western half of North America. 12-36" tall x 12-24" wide. 2013, p. 60. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Asclepias_speciosa&oldid=992398114, Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands, Natural history of the California Coast Ranges, Natural history of the Central Valley (California), Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 01:57. Asclepias speciosa: Showy milkweed. Follicles dry during August and September, and seeds disperse in September and October [ 10 ]. Common milkweed has a wide native range, but it might not be the best choice. Showy milkweed is a valuable resource for European honey bees as … The Myths to Bust Myth #1: Milkweed is an invasive weed. The seeds you will receive were hand collected by me in Reno Nevada or near Boise Idaho in September 2020. Mexican whorled milkweed has narrow seed pods that are 2 to 3 inches long and smooth. The large, pointed, elongate, simple, entire leaves are arranged oppositely on stalks. In addition, the nectar provided by its flowers is popular with hummingbirds, bees and other types of butterflies. Showy Milkweed is common through its native range which extends mostly west of the Mississippi River. Showy milkweed is so named because of the explosion of pretty, fragrant blooms that come out from mid to late summer. Its blossoms are of a soft, rich pink and deliciously fragrant. A standby in the butterfly garden, milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, provides the … Showy milkweed grows through the Willamette Valley and is the most commonly available Asclepias in nurseries. West Ecoregions include: 331, 332, 341, 342 and numerous smaller ecoregions related to terrain and rainfall. Each individual inflorescence is a very unique combination of green and white and hangs on a long peduncle in the open, lax umbel. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. 100 Showy Milkweed Seeds. It is one of about 115 species that occur in the Americas. Milkweed is a beneficial wildflower. What is Milkweed? The seeds are light brown, oblong, flattened, and 3 to 8 mm long with a tuft of deciduous silky hairs approximately 1 inch long. greenei, Horsetail milkweed, Asclepias subverticillata, Largeflower milkweed, Asclepias connivens, Mexican whorled milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, Mojave milkweed, Asclepias nyctaginifolia, Parish's woolly milkweed, Asclepias vestita, Sidecluster milkweed, Asclepias lanuginosa, Slimpod milkweed, Asclepias quinquedentata, Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata ssp. Bronze Fennel Plants (Foeniculum vulgare purpureum/rubrum) $ … Showy Milkweed Seeds. 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. Bringing Nature Home, Updated and Expanded: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Its 5" long Its fuzzy leaves are often covered with the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies in summer. It may have “weed” in the name, but there are over 100 species of milkweed … Range British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Habitat Showy Milkweed can be found in damp grasslands, roadsides, along streams and forest edges. Across the U.S. and parts of southern Canada, milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) The flowers form on top of the stems and are rounded clusters of rosy-pink flowers. There are many factors that contribute to whether you will see monarchs or note: weather, pesticide use, garden plants, etc.. Asclepias speciosa. It has up to 40 inch stems and large gray-green oval leaves that can be 5 inches in length. Showy Milkweed Plants are native and very attractive to Monarchs as well as other nectaring butterflies. Rated 5.00 out of 5 $ 7.95. Most species are tropical or arid land species. showy milkweed. The weather and water supply will determine the timing and length of the bloom. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) adds character and interest to a wide range of garden settings and more importantly, attracts Monarch butterflies. showy milkweed is definitely a host plants that monarchs use. I want perennial milkweed in the park median. ; Seeds: plant your seeds directly into the soil in the fall.As an alternative, you can start your seeds indoors, 4-8 weeks before the average date of last frost. The butterfly weed ( A. tuberosa ) of North America has bright orange flowers and is an important butterfly host plant . This flowering plant is a hairy, erect perennial. Across much of its range in the western U.S., showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa . These are ad and/or affiliate links for showy milkweed seed. Quick View. Showy Milkweed. Additionally, phenylacetaldehyde produced by the plants attracts Synanthedon myopaeformis, the red-belted clearwing moth. ... Showy Milkweed Plants. FIRE ECOLOGY It’s the only plant that hosts monarch caterpillars. The fruit is a large, rough follicle filled with many flat oval seeds, each with silky hairs. Grows 3-4 … Asclepias speciosa is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.6 m (2ft). If your milkweed is in good condition and there are monarchs in your area, they should gift you some eggs at some point. pulchra, Zizotes milkweed, Asclepias oenotheroides. Milkweed, scientifically called Asclepias, is a huge genus, with 73 species native to the United States and more than 100 species across North America. Planting Milkweed. is an important source of nectar for adult monarch butterflies and is the preferred host plant for monarch larvae (Borders, et al., 2012). Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd Ed. Their corollas are reflexed and the central flower parts, five hoods with prominent hooks, form a star shape. [1] Some Native Americans believed the milky sap had medicinal qualities, however, most species of milkweed are toxic,[1] particularly to livestock. Milkweed seed viability remains high for most of a decade. U.S. Weed Information; Asclepias speciosa . Noteworthy Characteristics. Some milkweed species also successfully colonize disturbed areas such as roadsides, railways, and agricultural field borders. Which Kind of Milkweed Should You Grow? Appearance 45 to 90 cm - 1.5 to 3 feet) Pale pink flowers (sometimes greenish) grow in rounded clusters and are sweet smelling. The eye-catching, hirsute, pale pink through pinkish-purple flowers occur in dense umbellate cymes. Sow these seeds in late fall when soil temperatures are below 50 degrees to allow the seed to stratify naturally. 2. The seeds have been stored dry at room temperature. It is also a larval host for the dogbane tiger moth and the queen butterfly.[5]. Showy milkweed. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) By David Taylor. Figure 2. Umbels of 10 to 40 flowers; peduncles 2–8 cm long. Our plants are safe for butterflies. Range. 5 LB. The bloom on your plant will vary on the timing and duration of the bloom. Common names: Tropical Milkweed, Bloodflower (or Blood flower), Cotton Bush, Hierba de la Cucaracha, Mexican Butterfly Weed, Redhead, Scarlet Milkweed; Native Range: USA: not native; USDA Hardiness Zones: Note: Asclepias curassavica has become a popular milkweed plant in the southern coastal areas of the United States. Asclepias speciosa is a milky-sapped perennial plant in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), known commonly as the showy milkweed,[1] and is found in the Western half of North America. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). [1], Native Americans used fiber in the stems for rope, basketry, and nets. Threatened. Blooms: Showy milkweed blooms between May and September. It also hosts Monarch butterflies at every stage of development! This species is native to the western half of North America. The one gram packets contain approximately 100 seeds of Asclepias speciosa. Idaho, showy milkweed is the most abundant milkweed species, especially in riparian corridors frequented by monarchs, and therefore critical to the perpetuation of the monarch life cycle in the . Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is native to drier regions of the west and serves as a major food source for monarch caterpillars in the western United States. (Asclepias viridis) Description. Asclepias speciosa We are happy to offer one of the showiest milkweeds, with a wide range in California, always a pleasure to see. Add to Wishlist. It is hardy to zone (UK) 2. [3], Asclepias speciosa is a specific monarch butterfly food and habitat plant. Torr.) The genus name, Asclepias, commemorates Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. Butterfly Host Plants. Showy milkweeds are found from Manitoba to Minnesota, south to Texas and westward to British Columbia and California. Across showy milkweed's range, flowering occurs from May to August [10,17,22,39,44,45,63]. Poke milkweed (A. exaltata) is one of our green-flowered milkweeds but still quite easily told apart by its habitat, leaves, and flowers.This species can grow upwards of four feet tall and can have multiple flower umbels that tend to droop and hang over. A showy variety of asclepias, Spider Milkweed's off-white blossoms surrounded in green, along with its shorter height (12"), make for a unique statement in the summer garden. Showy milkweed pods are 3 to 5 inches long and densely covered with … Our plants are safe for butterflies and caterpillars! Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) occurs in all the western states and is the top choice for restoration in this region with A. latifolia (broadleaf milkweed) a second choice. This flowering plant is a hairy, erect perennial that grows to about 4 feet tall. Showy Milkweed (A. speciosa)– This species is native to the western part of the U.S. and some regions in Canada. Showy was planted where is for the purpose of it spreading and filling the space. showy milkweed. showy milkweed bloom clusters forming (late May), showy milkweed seeds removed from fruit pod (fall), Bear mountain milkweed, Asclepias scaposa, California milkweed, Asclepias californica, Clasping milkweed, Asclepias amplexicaulis, Engelmann's milkweed, Asclepias engelmanniana, Green Comet milkweed, Asclepias viridiflora, Greene's milkweed, Asclepias californica ssp. This variety is extremely attractive to Monarch butterflies, bees, and other beneficial bugs.