Download Milkweed Species General Description and Growth Habits

Milkweed Species
General Description and Growth Habits
Tropical Milkweed, Bloodflower, Asclepias currassavica
This annual milkweed has colorful flowers that are usually a mix of blood red and orangey yellow, but
solid colored versions exist also. It is our primary host milkweed for the Monarchs in the Butterfly House.
We will plant heavily throughout our summer display gardens this year, including the Hummingbird
Garden to attract hummingbirds. Bloodflower is grown at NBG as an annual but is a perennial in South
America where it is native. This milkweed usually grows two to three feet tall and prefers full to partial
sun in moist well-drained soil.
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
This native perennial is a common sight in eastern Virginia, especially in wetter areas. It grows 2 to 4 feet
tall and has flowers that are shades of pink, purple and white. As you might expect from its name, swamp
milkweed can be grown in wet soils, though it also does well in normal soils, but it is not drought tolerant.
It prefers full sun.
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
This perennial milkweed is a native perennial to much of eastern North America. It has large clusters of
fragrant mauve colored flowers and grows three to four feet tall. It prefers full sun in moist to dry soils,
and it can be fairly drought tolerant, but must have good drainage. Common milkweed can spread by
seed, but usually its vigorous rhizomes move the plant around and the plant might get out of hand if not
properly maintained. You can find this plant in the WOW annual beds, the Meadow entry bed and the
Butterfly Garden.
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed is another of our native milkweeds and can often be seen growing in fields and along
roadsides in rural Virginia. It is perennial and usually grows 18 to 24 inches tall with vivid orange or
yellow blooms. It likes full sun in soil with good drainage, and it is moderately drought tolerant as well.
You can find Butterfly Weed in many of our perennial gardens, the Native Plant Garden and at the
Butterfly Garden.
Green Milkweed, Asclepias viridis
This perennial mid-western native grows 1 to 2 feet tall and bears white to yellow green flowers with a
purple tinge. It prefers full sun in moist to dry, well-drained soil. This plant will be located in the Tropical
Garden entry beds.
Giant Milkweed, Sodom’s Apple, Calotropis procera
Native to North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia, this milkweed has an ancient history, and is a
plant that might be mentioned in the bible, depending upon interpretation. For summer 2014 it will used
in the Butterfly house and Wow. The plant prefers a warmer climate than ours, so we will be using it as
an annual, but where conditions permit it can get fifteen feet tall. The leaves are silver and the flowers are
maroon, purple, and white, blooming all season. It prefers dry well-drained soil in full sun.
Oscar Milkweed, Swan Plant, Family Jewels, Gomphocarpus physocarpus
(formerly Asclepias physocarpa)
This milkweed is a native of South Africa. It will be used in Wow annual beds, Discovery Peak, and at
the Butterfly House. The plant is an annual and can reach a height of six feet and grows three feet wide.
The flowers bloom in summer and are white with purple accents. The distinct, fleshy seed pods are large
and covered with soft bristles. It prefers full sun to partial shade in moist to dry well-drained soil.
All of the above Asclepias are both nectar plants for the adult butterflies and
host food for the monarch caterpillar.
6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23518-5337 * Telephone: 757-441-5830 Fax: 757-441-5828
www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org