Showy Milkweed Seed Packet

"Showy Milkweed is the first milkweed I ever saw growing in the wild. I was 10 years old and it was growing in the valley floor of Yosemite. Showy Milkweed is mostly found in higher elevations and the flowers are typically a variation of pink and white depending on geography. I’ve seen Showy Milkweed in California with all white flowers and some in New Mexico that are all pink. The flowers of this milkweed are fragrant." — Bobby Gendron

The Facts:

• Latin name: Asclepias speciosa
• Quantity of seeds per packet: 50
• Monarch butterfly host plant
• Fragrant star shaped pink and white flowers
• Hardy perennial
• 36" - 60" tall
• Blooms from June until August
• Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 - 11

Growing Instructions: Start Showy Milkweed seeds outdoors in late November. Pick a location with full sun and prepare soil for good drainage, if needed. Plant seeds 1/8" deep and 18” apart, using 3 seeds per hole. Water once, and then allow the winter rain and/or snow to provide moisture until the spring. The seeds will germinate 10 - 20 days after the danger of nighttime freezing has past. Once the seedlings reach 1", thin out so you have individual plants spaced 18” apart. Water regularly allowing the soil to go nearly dry between each watering. Fertilize monthly in the summer with a general purpose fertilizer. If you prefer to plant the seeds outdoors in the spring, read our detailed instructions on cold moist stratification.

Showy Milkweed Range Map:

Map ©: Kartesz, J.T. 2013. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP).

Showy Milkweed is native to the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming