Eastern Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata subsp. pulchra
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as in-kar-NAH-tuh PUL-kruh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Eastern Swamp Milkweed is a native wildflower found in bogs, marshes and other wet sites. It can be found on the coast, Piedmont and mountain areas of NC. It is similar to A. incarnata but can be distinguished by its broader leaves, bushier appearance, and deeper bloom color (though it can be highly variable). It grows 2-4 feet high and the 5-inch seed pods persist into winter. It was chosen as the 2005 NC Wildflower of the Year.
Although it naturally grows along ponds, streams, swamps and bogs, this plant will do well in low lying areas of the garden that retain moisture. It is tolerant of clay soils and will grow in full sun to partial shade. It is pollinated by bees and is a host plant for the monarch butterfly. Use in a native/pollinator garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant disease problems. Most common milkweed pests (aphids, milkweed beetles, Monarch larvae, and milkweed tussock moth larvae) are not problematic, but both large and small milkweed bugs can be very damaging to seed pods.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- incarnata
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Nova Scotia, Central and Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , MA , MD , ME , MI , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 5-inch long brown seed pods from August to October and can last into winter. Seeds have silky white tufts and are dispersed by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pink to rose-pink fragrant flowers in terminal clusters bloom from July to September. The corolla lobes are reflexed and corona horns are longer than the hoods and incurved.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, opposite green lance-shaped leaves with fine hairs. The base is rounded to subcordate, apex acute to short-acuminate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green branched stems with fine hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
