Noteworthy Characteristics. The genus name, Asclepias, commemorates Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. It may have “weed” in the name, but there are over 100 species of milkweed … Showy milkweed grows in well-drained soil in full or nearly full sun, in pastures, meadows, forest clearings, untilled fields, roadsides, and ditch banks, from sea level to 6,250 ft. For updated distribution, please consult the Plant Profile for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Showy milkweed pods are 3 to 5 inches long and densely covered with … It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen in September. Blooms are 3"-8" in diameter and have many smaller blossoms. What is Milkweed? Asclepias speciosa: Showy milkweed. pulchra, Zizotes milkweed, Asclepias oenotheroides. I want perennial milkweed in the park median. Common milkweed is a member of the Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) family. Most species are tropical or arid land species. Its blossoms are of a soft, rich pink and deliciously fragrant. Asclepias speciosa seeds. The Myths to Bust Myth #1: Milkweed is an invasive weed. 12-36" tall x 12-24" wide. Common milkweed has a wide native range, but it might not be the best choice. If your milkweed is in good condition and there are monarchs in your area, they should gift you some eggs at some point. Figure 2. The very fragrant blooms give way to prominent 2 - 3 inch long seed pods and the leaves turn bright Gold in the fall. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), bloodflower (A. curassavica), and showy milkweed (A. speciosa) often are cultivated as ornamentals and to attract butterflies. In its native range, it can be found in prairies, savannas, and other open spaces. [2], The young leaves and seed pods can be boiled and eaten. It is noted for attracting wildlife. The eye-catching, hirsute, pale pink through pinkish-purple flowers occur in dense umbellate cymes. occur in a broad range of habitats including prairies, plains, deserts, open woods, pine barrens, canyons, arroyos, bogs, marshes, and wet meadows. Showy milkweed grows through the Willamette Valley and is the most commonly available Asclepias in nurseries. The plant is self-fertile. 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. Showy Milkweed (A. speciosa) is native from BC to the Maritimes and found across the northern USA. 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. showy milkweed. Blooms: Showy milkweed blooms between May and September. Quick View. Milkweed is a beneficial wildflower. The seeds are light brown, oblong, flattened, and 3 to 8 mm long with a tuft of deciduous silky hairs approximately 1 inch long. Ecological Function Th The seeds you will receive were hand collected by me in Reno Nevada or near Boise Idaho in September 2020. 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. Each individual inflorescence is a very unique combination of green and white and hangs on a long peduncle in the open, lax umbel. ... Showy Milkweed Plants. Scientific name A. speciosa. The one gram packets contain approximately 100 seeds of Asclepias speciosa. These are ad and/or affiliate links for showy milkweed seed. Showy milkweed is a valuable resource for European honey bees as … It is one of about 115 species that occur in the Americas. 5 LB. Showy Milkweed (A. speciosa)– This species is native to the western part of the U.S. and some regions in Canada. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. Across showy milkweed's range, flowering occurs from May to August [10,17,22,39,44,45,63]. The seeds have been stored dry at room temperature. Showy milkweed is so named because of the explosion of pretty, fragrant blooms that come out from mid to late summer. Leaves opposite, ascending to spreading; blades lanceolate to ovate, sometimes cordate-based, 5–20 cm. 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. This species flowers from May through September. FIRE ECOLOGY Butterfly Host Plants. Showy milkweeds are found from Manitoba to Minnesota, south to Texas and westward to British Columbia and California. U.S. Weed Information; Asclepias speciosa . [3], Asclepias speciosa is a specific monarch butterfly food and habitat plant. This species is native to the western half of North America. 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. Range British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Habitat Showy Milkweed can be found in damp grasslands, roadsides, along streams and forest edges. Habitat. Sturdy stems hold fragrant flower heads upright and soft gray-green foliage adds bold texture to the borders and butterfly gardens. This variety is extremely attractive to Monarch butterflies, bees, and other beneficial bugs. Common Milkweed was considered for the spot but the place is sandy dry and hot and the hope is it’s western roots might give it greater drought tolerance. It also hosts Monarch butterflies at every stage of development! Planting Milkweed. [1] Some Native Americans believed the milky sap had medicinal qualities, however, most species of milkweed are toxic,[1] particularly to livestock. In addition, the nectar provided by its flowers is popular with hummingbirds, bees and other types of butterflies. 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 … The bloom on your plant will vary on the timing and duration of the bloom. Bringing Nature Home, Updated and Expanded: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. 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