Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Common Milkweed is an extremely important and unique plant. The Monarch Butterfly will only lay their eggs on Milkweed species. This is because once the eggs hatch, the larva can only eat Milkweed to survive and grow. They cannot feed on any other species of plant. Once they eat enough Milkweed, they chrysalis and then hatch into a Monarch. Monarchs also use Milkweed as a source of nectar to gain the energy needed to migrate annually across the United States. It is a fascinating phenomenon that is worth checking out!
As you may know, Monarch Butterfly populations continue to decline. Although due to many reasons, land development and conventional agricultural and pesticide/herbicide among the main reasons for the decline of the milkweed plant and monarch population. We can do our part to help by planting the Common Milkweed seeds in our own gardens where it will act as a waystation for resting and nesting Monarchs. You can also grow other flowering plants that will help our pollinators, like Catnip!
Common Milkweed spreads through underground rhizomes and returns each year in the cooler climates. Once established it is drought resistant, heat and cold tolerant and will thrive in a wide variety of different soil types. Common Milkweed plants flower late summer and smell like Lilacs. The flowers can range from light pink to dark purple.
NAME: Milkweed (Asclepais Syriaca)
VARIETY: Common, Wild
STRATIFICATION: Required
DAYS TO MATURITY: 60 – 70 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Perennial in cooler zones / annual in hot zones
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 9
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Sun
SOIL: Average, drier soil with a pH 4.8 – 6.8
PLANT HEIGHT: 2 – 4 feet
SPACING: 6 – 18 inches
TEMP: 50 – 85 °F
Milkweed must undergo stratification. Milkweed seeds have an embryonic dormancy phase, and generally will not sprout until this dormancy is broken with a cold treatment.
Take a clean dye-free paper towel and completely dampen it with water; ensure that it is not too wet, squeezing out any excess moisture.
Lay paper towel on a table and sprinkle desired quantity of seeds on one half of the paper towel, ensuring that they are not overlapping.
Fold the paper towel in half over the seeds and slip into a plastic zipping baggie; ideally the size of the bag should be bigger than the size of the paper towel, so it does not bunch up.
Seal shut the baggie and place this into an undisturbed area of the refrigerator.
Check on the moisture once a week to make sure it is damp to the touch; if it becomes slightly dry add some drops of water until remoistened.
You must leave the bag in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 days. This mimics the natural stratification process. After this time, they are ready to direct seed into pots, cells, or prepared soil.
If mold grows on your seeds, the towel was too wet and you must start over.
If seeds prematurely sprout you can remove and immediately plant, root side down
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
It is not recommended to start Butterfly Milkweed seeds indoors due to their sensitive root systems and intolerance for transplanting.
If you decide to start your seeds indoors, begin 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area.
Use seed trays or biodegradable pots filled with a well-draining seed starting mix.
Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly press them in, as they require light for germination.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Place the trays or pots in a sunny location or under grow lights with temperatures around 70-75°F (21-24°C).
Germination typically occurs within 14-30 days.
Once the seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves, they can be transplanted outdoors.
Sow seeds one inch apart and no more than 1/8th inch deep, sunlight must be able to penetrate the thin dusting of soil.
Thin seeds to 6 inches apart when they reach 4 inches tall.
Keep soil well moistened and weed free until the plants are 10 inches or taller, at which point they require less care and can compete for space, light, water and nutrients on their own.
Prepare a weed free, fertile soil bed for the seeds, free of large rocks and compacted soil; you should be able to stick your finger into the soil 3 or more inches if it is well aerated and correctly prepared.
Water newly planted seedlings regularly until they become established.
Once established, Butterfly Milkweed is drought-tolerant and does not require frequent watering.
Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can cause excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming throughout the growing season.
Provide support for taller varieties to prevent them from flopping over.
Common Milkweed is primarily grown to attract pollinators and to support the monarch butterfly population. Although it is possible to harvest flowers for decorative use in floral arrangements, it is not generally recommended due to their value for pollinators.
