Description

Botanical Interests' Common Milkweed Seeds offer the unique opportunity to support monarch butterflies in your garden. This perennial, native to the eastern and central U.S., thrives in full sun and blooms with clusters of pink, purplish, or white flowers in summer, followed by decorative seedpods perfect for dried arrangements. A robust, shrub-like plant, it spreads through underground rhizomes and provides essential food and habitat for monarch caterpillars. While it’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, take care as its sap is toxic—avoid skin and eye contact and ingestion. For optimal germination, stratification (a cold, moist period) is highly recommended.

Botanical Name: Asclepias syriaca
Family: Apocynaceae
Native: Eastern 2/3 of the U.S. and Canada
Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 3 and warmer
Plant Dimensions: 24″–36″ tall
Variety Information: Individual flowers ½” long, borne in pink to purplish or white clusters.
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Period: Summer
Attributes: Attracts Pollinators, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant

When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, or in the fall for spring germination.
When to Start Inside: 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
Days to Emerge: 14–28 days
Seed Depth: ¼”
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 12″
Thinning: When 3″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″

Special Care: Benefits greatly from stratification (a cold, moist period) prior to germination.

23 seeds.