See what an established Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed, Marsh Milkweed, Swamp Butterfly Weed, Rose Milkweed, Pink Milkweed, Red Milkweed) looks like in every season of the year. Also learn information about A. incarnata growth, response to pests and insect/pollinator interactions.
Height:2-6 feet
Bloom:June-October
Sun:Full, partial (shade tolerant)
Soil Moisture:Wet to medium
Soil Type:Clay, loam
Pollinators:Bees, butterflies, moths
Larval Host Plant:Monarch caterpillars, Queen butterflies, Dogbane Tiger moth, Milkweed Tussock Moth
Video Links:
Unique Flowers of A. incarnata - Dr. Thomas Rosburg; Iowa PBS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=emkz1Jt8uuw
Native Plant Rhizomes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBfeXUSyzPo
All video/images created by Native Flower Power channel creator, except:
Lacewing Bug: Didgeman (pixabay) https://pixabay.com/photos/lacewing-insect-wild-grain-green-394259/
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Scientific Journal Article References:
Abdala-Roberts, L., A.A. Agrawal, and K.A. Mooney. 2012 “Ant–aphid interactions on Asclepias syriaca are mediated by plant genotype and caterpillar damage.” Oikos 121: 1905-1913.
Agrawal, A. A., A.C. Erwin, and S.C. Cook. 2008. “Natural Selection on and Predicted Responses of Ecophysiological Traits of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).” Journal of Ecology 96(3): 536–542.
Ali, JG and AA Agrawal. 2014 “Asymmetry of plant-mediated interactions between specialist aphids and caterpillars on two milkweeds.” Functional Ecology 28: 1404-1412.
Baker, A.M., C.T. Redmond, S.B. Malcolm, and D.A. Potter. 2020. “Suitability of native milkweed (Asclepias) species versus cultivars for supporting monarch butterflies and bees in urban gardens.” PeerJ. Sep 25(8): e9823.
Ivey, C., S. Lipow, and R. Wyatt. 1999. “Mating systems and interfertility of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra).” Heredity 82: 25–35.
Ivey, C.T., P. Martinez, and R. Wyatt. 2003. “Variation in pollinator effectiveness in swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata (Apocynaceae).” American Journal of Botany 90: 214-225.
Pocius, VM, DM Debinski, KG Bidne, RL Hellmich, and FK Hunter. 2017. "Performance of Early Instar Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.) on Nine Milkweed Species Native to Iowa.” The Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 71(3):153-161.
Pocius, VM, JM Pleasants, DM Debinski, KG Bidne, RL Hellmich, SP Bradbury, and SL Blodgett. 2018. “Monarch Butterflies Show Differential Utilization of Nine Midwestern Milkweed Species.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 6.
Prouty, C, P Barriga, AK Davis, V Krischik, and S Altizer. 2021. "Host Plant Species Mediates Impact of Neonicotinoid Exposure to Monarch Butterflies." Insects 12 (11): 999.
Lemoine, NP 2015. “Climate change may alter breeding ground distributions of eastern migratory monarchs (Danaus plexippus) via range expansion of Asclepias host plants.” PLoS One 10(2): e0118614.
Pringle, EG, N Alexandria, I Ableson, RV Barbehenn, and RL Vannette. 2014. “Plant-derived differences in the composition of aphid honeydew and their effects on colonies of aphid-tending ants.” Ecology and Evolution 4(21): 4065–4079.
Smith, RA, KA Mooney, and AA Agrawal. 2008 “Coexistence of three specialist aphids on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.” Ecology 89: 2187-2196.
Weiss, HB, and EL Dickerson. 1921. “Notes on Milkweed Insects in New Jersey.” Journal of the New York Entomological Society 29(3): 123–145.
Wilcox, Alana AE, Amy EM Newman, and D Ryan Norris. 2021. “Developmental and reproductive effects of clothianidin exposure in monarch butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).” The Canadian Entomologist 153 (3): 327-342.
Zehnder, CB and MD Hunter. 2007. “Interspecific Variation Within the Genus Asclepias in Response to Herbivory by a Phloem-feeding Insect Herbivore.” Journal of Chemical Ecology 33: 2044–2053.
Non-Scientific Journal Article References:
Barber, Abby, and David Mizejewski. “Twelve Native Milkweeds for Monarchs.” The National Wildlife Federation. 2022
Florida Native Plant Society
Florida Wildflower Foundation
Illinois Wildflowers
The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Minnesota Wildflowers
Monarch Watch
Montana Field Guide
Native Plant Trust
NatureServe Explorer
North Carolina Extension Gardener
Prairie Moon Nursery
Prairie Nursery
Sweetser, Robin. “Best Milkweed Varieties for Monarch Butterflies.” The Old Farmer’s Almanac. 2023
U.S. Forest Service