showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Type:: Monarch Host Plants
native perennials
perennials
Notable Traits:: attracts butterflies/pollinators
butterfly caterpillar food
Kansas Native Plants
ornamental fruit & seed
resistant: deer
resistant: disease
resistant: rabbit
wildlife food source
Hardiness:: Zone 3 – 9
Mature Height:: 3-4ft
Light:: sun (8+ hrs)
Water:: drought tolerant once established
requires regular watering
Bloom Color:: pink
Bloom Shape:: cluster
Bloom Time:: summer
Foliage:: green
Butterfly Host:: Monarch

Description
Native Range

Showy milkweed produces dusty pink flower clusters in mid-summer atop large, glossy leaves that resemble a rubber tree plant. Flowers are followed by large, decorative seed pods.

Companion Plants

spotted bee balm

Monarda punctata

Prefers sandy soils and full to part sun. It has an exotic flower form and … Continued

pale purple coneflower

Echinacea pallida

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Missouri primrose

Oenothera macrocarpa

Large, deep yellow flowers cover this sprawling native over glossy green leaves from late spring … Continued

little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Perennial Plant Association 2022 Perennial Plant of the Year! State grass of Kansas Silvery-blue foliage … Continued

butterfly weed, milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Perennial Plant Association 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year! Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) features showy … Continued

common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Common milkweed produces dusty pink flower clusters in mid-summer atop large, glossy leaves that resemble … Continued

showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Showy milkweed produces dusty pink flower clusters in mid-summer atop large, glossy leaves that resemble … Continued

whorled milkweed

Asclepias verticillata

Whorled milkweed blooms later than other milkweeds with white flowers July thru September. The caterpillars … Continued

giant milkweed

Calotropis gigantea

Thrives in medium moisture and well-drained soils in full sun. Established plants tolerate drought, but … Continued

swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp milkweed sports lightly fragrant flower clusters from early summer through fall. Plants grow 3-5′ … Continued

‘Silky Gold & Red’ tropical milkweed

Asclepias curassavica

‘Silky Deep Red’ blooms scarlet red and yellow two-tone. ‘Silky Gold’ sports yellow blooms. Both … Continued

tall green milkweed

Asclepias hirtella

Plants grow up to 4′ and produce white flowers. This species prefers medium-wet to dry … Continued

spider milkweed, green antelopehorn

Asclepias viridis

Attracts monarch butterflies and a host of other insects while being tolerant of heat and … Continued

green comet milkweed

Asclepias viridiflora

Produces copious amounts of nectar especially adored by bumble bees. Flowers have a sweet odor … Continued

Sullivant’s milkweed

Asclepias sullivantii

Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun, plants may self-seed in … Continued