Milkweed is a beneficial wildflower. To learn more, download: Seed Starting Basics. Join our Newsletter and stay informed about special offers and new plants! Trays of 38 plants and 3-packs leave our Midwest greenhouse based on species readiness (well-rooted for transit) and based on order date; Spring shipping is typically early-May through June, and Fall shipping is late-August through September. You're sure to see Monarchs when you plant milkweeds. For example, plants that thrive in dry sandy soils sometimes "flop" if the soil is richer than what they need, or if they are receiving too much water. Milkweed seed viability remains high for most of a decade. Milkweed growing in an urban rain garden. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. Plants ordered now are being scheduled for our spring plant-shipping period. https://www.prairienursery.com/showy-milkweed-asclepias-speciosa.html Planting milkweed is the most effective way to help because it is the only plant that sustains a monarch through each of its life stages. Plant Specs: Perennial: USDA hardiness zones 3a-9b (lows -39.9 °C or -40 °F) Native to western half of US and Canada. 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 sole food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. The Myths to Bust Myth #1: Milkweed is an invasive weed. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. Your order confirmation email will include the dates for your, Plants and Seeds are shipped separately and have different. Native to the western U.S. and upper Midwest, Showy Milkweed tolerates a variety of soil types and conditions and is very drought tolerant. The following year I got my first milkweed plants. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. All orders are shipped. Showy Milkweed is similar in form to Common Milkweed but less aggressive, making it more manageable in a garden setting. About 3’ high, Asclepias speciosa features large velvety blue-green leaves, and pink spikey flower clusters, atop thick stems. In 2014 I got my first caterpillar and raised it on showy milkweed leaves I collected fresh each day from miles away. Showy Milkweed is a hardy 2-3 ft. perennial. Showy Pink Milkweed variety is an essential wildflower for supporting Monarch butterflies by providing food for caterpillars and nectar for the adult butterflies. We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Full or almost full sun. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control. Milkweed grows in clumps beside roadways and on abandoned farmlands and other open areas, reaching heights of 120 to 150 cm (4 to 5 ft) during the summer. Showy Pink Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is an essential wildflower for supporting Monarch butterflies by providing food for caterpillars and nectar for the adult butterflies. Stems: Erect, simple; plants sparsely to densely puberulent, not glaucous; sap milky. Asclepias speciosa: Showy milkweed. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Asclepias speciosa from Seed, Propagation. Most orders ship within a day or two upon receipt. Plants that thrive in dry sandy soils will tend to "flop" if the soil is richer than what they need, or if they are receiving too much water. They were tropical milkweed and died in the cold winter weather. Showy milkweed is easily grown from seed and can also be propagated through rhizome cuttings. Plants and Seeds are shipped to destinations within the contiguous United States, only. The seeds can be sown outdoors in the fall or winter-sown. SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Be the first to learn of limited-time sales, Attracts monarch and other butterflies. TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US). Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) is an erect, clump-forming perennial prized for its brilliant spherical clusters of fragrant, pinkish-white, starry flowers, which bloom from late spring to early summer. Flowers also attract an array of bees, flies, and butterflies. BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Sow in fall or cold stratify 1-2 months and sow in spring. 3-4 ft. tall x 24-30" wide. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. Asclepias speciosa - Showy Milkweed - Perennial wildflower Host plant for monarch butterflies. 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. The seeds you will receive were hand collected by me in Reno Nevada or near Boise Idaho in September 2020. From late May to July, during bloom, showy milkweed is easily recognized by the striking beauty of its large pink to reddish purple inflorescence. get valuable technical advice, and much more! Monarch butterflies are rapidly declining due to loss of habitat and use of pesticides. The seeds have been stored dry at room temperature. Spacing: 2 to 3 ft. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range. Zones 3-7. The largest wild milkweed, with 3" round clusters of showy, pink flowers in summer. Butterflies, Pollinators, Hummingbirds, Host Plant, Deer Resistant. It is a plant of the northern tier of states and can withstand very cold temperatures, … Showy milkweed. Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed plants. With all orders, credit cards are pre-authorized and charged when your order is placed. By planting milkweed in your own garden, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects! Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. It also hosts Monarch butterflies at every stage of development! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Buy Showy Milkweed Plants and Seeds from JB. Is this common? (3-packs) ship when all plants are well-rooted and transit-ready, early May through June. Grasses are great for providing additional support in a prairie garden. (The matter looks like fiberglass.) Asclepias speciosa - Showy Milkweed A stout, sparingly branched, pubescent perennial, 1 1/2-3 ft. tall, with large, oval, blue-green leaves and showy, spherical clusters of rose-colored flowers. About 3 feet high, it features large oval leaves, and spikey pink flower clusters atop thick stems. The corona (circle of petals around the center of the flower) contains 5 hooded forms facing inwards. 3-4 ft. tall x 24-30" wide. All seeds come from Non-GMO plants that are never sprayed with pesticides. Showy milkweed is a fairly large perennial, growing as tall as 4 feet so plant it at the back of a perennial bed. Plants are sold in-store only. *We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations. Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants, BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $7.50 over $50.00: 15% of the total plant cost (for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required). MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Milkweed 4 Monarchs offers a diverse selection of affordable native Milkweed species for your state. Can be invasive in damp areas. Find More Showy Milkweed Seeds Here. The very fragrant blooms give way to prominent 2 - 3 inch long seed pods and the leaves turn bright Gold in the fall. In addition, the nectar provided by its flowers is popular with hummingbirds, bees and other types of butterflies. Showy Milkweed is similar in form to Common Milkweed but less aggressive, making it more manageable in a garden setting. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years. Frequently bought together + Total price: $4.00. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax. When growing this beautifully fragrant native perennial, plant in a full sun location with good drainage as they can tolerate dry and poor soils. This 2 to 3-foot-tall perennial flowers through the summer and is one of several nectar sources for the adult monarch butterflies. Winter care of milkweed depends on your zone and which milkweed you have. Media Marketing/Shutterstock A monarch butterfly lands on a swamp milkweed plant. Please login to your customer account to create or access your wish list. Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Tropical milkweed probably wins the contest for the … The whole plant is grayish and pubescent, except for a few specimen that sometimes are free from hair. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Details. Avoid spacing plants further apart than the recommended distance. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. Asclepias speciosa: showy milkweed, showy butterfly weed, creek milkweed, Greek milkweed. We are not able to combine a new order with a previous order, for shipping. Full-color tags and planting instructions/care are included with each order. 1. Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. Showy Milkweed is a 2' to 4' tall native perennial with globular heads of variable colored flowers ranging from light pink to red or purple. We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. Our Products >> Wildflowers and Grasses >> Showy Milkweed ASCLEPIAS SPECIOSA, Showy Milkweed 10 cubic inch A unique ball of rose colored star flowers sits atop velvety, blue-green foliage, 11/2-3' tall. Photo by Emma Pelton While you can certainly buy milkweed seed from a variety of suppliers, harvesting milkweed seed from local ecotypes is a great way to ensure that you are working with plants that are well adapted to your climate and soil conditions. Some plants will stand up just fine on their own, but others tend to flop without the support of other plants. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Add both to Cart Add both to List. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE. The blue-green leaves are thick and slightly hairy, topped by glorious rosy-pink starbursts fully … The Orioles use the dead stems for nests the next spring. The Monarch population is declining due to many factors, one of which is the increasingly limited access to Milkweed … In the last 20 years, the monarch butterfly population in North America has decreased by 90%. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species. With over 140 different types of milkweed, there are milkweeds that grow well in almost every hardiness zone. Milkweed plants are critical to the monarch butterflies survival. Grouping plants of similar heights together is helpful, and serves to unify the planting design, as well. Showy milkweed is native to the entire Western region of the U.S., even into Canada. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. For instance, plants in the milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae, (don't let the name intimidate you), secrete a milky sap (except for Butterfly Milkweed) and opposite or sometimes whorled leaves. Showy milkweed grows through the Willamette Valley and is the most commonly available Asclepias in nurseries. POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 38 and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. **We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. We are not able to arrange orders for pick-up at the Nursery. 12-36" tall x 12-24" wide. Though many milkweed plants need only the help of Mother Nature, this article will cover winter care of milkweed. Some plants are prone to flopping if the site conditions are not optimal. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order. (Our 'recommended spacing' takes into account the mature size of the plants.). Spring Potted Plants (3-packs) ship when all plants are well-rooted and transit-ready, early May through June. Photo by Matt Lavin. Plant cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Habit: Asclepias speciosa is a low-growing herbaceous perennial spread by rhizomes. The gray-green leaves are opposite, 4 to 7 inches long, oval, and covered in velvety hairs. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is similar in form to Common Milkweed but less aggressive, making it more manageable in a garden setting. If you don't have an account click here to register. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. The scientific name comes from Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants. The horns appear longer than other milkweed flowers. Overwintering Milkweed Plants. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. Asclepias sullivantii (prairie milkweed) Another common milkweed imitator with slightly smaller flowers, smooth leaves, and a less invasive growth habit. Milkweed species grow throughout the United States. Showy milkweed seeds need 30 days of cold stratification to improve … Showy milkweed is a member of the milkweed family Asclepiadaceae (now placed in Apocynaceae, the dogbane family). Without Milkweed, monarchs cannot successfully reproduce and the species declines. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on plants in the Asclepias genus, otherwise known as milkweeds. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order. My plant won't stand up straight without staking. Showy Milkweed is a stout, well-branched plant, airy and beautifully textured. They should be planted as soon as possible. The plant blooms in the summer with big globes of fragrant pink flowers. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow. Asclepias species are excellent nectar sources and are food for the larval stages of Monarch and Queen butterflies. About 3' high, it features large oval leaves, and spikey pink flower clusters atop thick stems …. Why Grow Milkweed Plants? This plant can be slow to get going, but once established it can spread rapidly. Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Height: 2 to 6 feet. Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. In our area Asclepias speciosa is covered with monarch caterpillars during the summer. Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants. The one gram packets contain approximately 100 seeds of Asclepias speciosa. In 2015 I learned about native milkweed and it's many benefits. Showy milkweed is a native herbaceous perennial from widespread rhizomes, which produce stems that grow to 1̴_ to 5 ft tall in summer. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. A milkweed variety for the midwest. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. About Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) 36 Nurseries Carry This Plant Add to My Plant List Showy milkweed is native to much of the western half of North America. This item has been added to your wishlist. You must login or register to add items to your wishlist. When prairie plants don't stand up straight it is often because of the planting layout. There are 5 separate sepals (petal-like leaves) and 5 fused petals. Asclepias speciosa seeds. Showy Milkweed is a perennial, with three foot tall stems and large gray five inch leaves, fruits 4" horns, flowers compound 4-5" cluster like a Forth of July firework. Prairie plants are at their best when they are in groups of plants which are planted densely enough to support each other. Showy Milkweed Growing Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies in California Article compiled by Anya Crane, Nursery Manager Garden Guides | At Your Home Garden Design Service | We've Gone Native Planting Service | Garden Tune-Up Service Why Plant Milkweed (Asclepias) in California? Sturdy stems hold fragrant flower heads upright and soft gray-green foliage adds bold texture to … showy milkweed 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 … If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). Showy Milkweed is common through its native range which extends mostly west of the Mississippi River. Plants are shipped during one of our "plant shipping periods" which occur twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The dried seed pods are also very interesting for dried arrangements. It may have “weed” in the name, but there are over 100 species of milkweed …