Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
ah-SKLEE-pee-us syriaca

Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Apocynaceae Family
 
 
Available May 7
Size Notes Price Availability
38 FLAT Field $86.58
 
Discover the allure of common milkweed, with its striking clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. Not only a stunning addition to the garden, but it also serves as a vital host for Monarch butterflies, creating a vibrant ecosystem right in your backyard!

About Milkweeds

Milkweed, (genus Asclepias), genus of about 140 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants belonging to the dogbane family Apocynaceae (formerly in Asclepiadaceae).

Milkweeds are found throughout North and South America, and several are cultivated as ornamentals.

Many milkweed butterflies, including monarch butterflies, rely exclusively on milkweed plants as a food source for their larvae.

These plants contain acrid milky juices that probably make the larvae and their subsequent stages distasteful to predators.
Highlights Best known as a food source for butterflies, this Midwest native perennial is common in fields and open woods. Many butterflies enjoy the nectar, while monarch butterfly caterpillars eat the leaves. Flowers lead to seed pods which split open releasing silky-tailed seeds which are dispersed by the wind.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 48 inches tall. 9 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Fragrant, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Rocky Soil, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Perennial, Pond, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Shallow Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color Pink or Mauve or White
Foliage Color
Animals That Use It

Caterpillars:

Larval Host:

Nectar:

Seeds:
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta, Monarda didyma, Aster novae-angliae, Salvia nemorosa, Achillea millefolium, Agastache spp., Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), and Coreopsis spp.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 04/13 - 09/24

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!