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Showy milkweed

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is similar in form to Common Milkweed but less aggressive, making it more manageable in a garden setting. About 3 feet high, it features large oval leaves, and spikey pink flower clusters atop thick stems. The very fragrant blooms give way to prominent 2 – 3-inch-long seed pods and the leaves turn bright Gold in the fall. Native to the western U.S. and upper Midwest, Showy Milkweed tolerates a variety of soil types and conditions and is very drought tolerant. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on plants in the Asclepias genus, otherwise known as milkweeds. Description from Prairie Nursery

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Showy milkweed

Showy milkweed fast facts

Scientific Name

Asclepias speciosa

Family

Apocynaceae

Garden Type

Anywhere

Wildlife

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Native Plant Region

PNW, North America

Light needs

Full Sun

Water Needs

Medium

Plant Type

Flowering, Perennial

Bloom Color(s)

Pink

Height

2 – 5 feet

Width

0 – 1, 1 – 2 feet

Months in Bloom

May, June

Safe Beneath Power Lines?

Yes
showy milkweed

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