Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Perennial flower
The pink milkweed. A tidy, upright plant that stays where you plant it — no aggressive runners like Common Milkweed — with clusters of small dusty-pink flowers that draw butterflies from across the yard.
The spec sheet.
- Habitat
- Wet meadows, stream edges, marsh margins
- Bloom time
- June – August
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil
- Rich, moist to wet; tolerates clay
- Moisture
- Moist to wet — does NOT want to dry out
- Height
- 3–5 feet
What it attracts.
The species that visit, feed on, or depend on this plant — and how they use it.
Monarch butterfly
Larval host
Second-favorite host after Common Milkweed in wet sites
Bumblebees & native bees
Nectar source
Great Spangled Fritillary
Nectar source
Swallowtails & skippers
Nectar source
One of the most-visited midsummer nectar plants
Give it a wet spot: a rain garden, a low corner, the edge of a downspout, or plant it and water generously the first season. Emerges late in spring — leave a marker.
Xerces Society · Jersey-Friendly Yards · Native Plant Society of NJ
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