Marsh MilkweedAsclepias incarnata
a.k.a. Swamp Milkweed
A common, native, erect, perennial herb usually 3-4" tall that has milky juice when the steam leaf is cut. Often the entire plant is reddish. A good plant for butterfly gardens and landscaping due to its aromatic and decorative qualities. This species is also used well in restorations of wetlands, wet woods, marshes and wet prairie. Also recommended for rain gardens, pond edges and vegetated swales. This species is a host and nectar plant for monarch butterflies.
USDA symbol: ASIN
General Information
| Plant Type | Forb |
|---|---|
| Height | 3 to 4 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | Pink |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 8 |
| Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Pollinator Value: Very High
| Bloom Months | June to August |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Butterflies |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Danaus gilippus, Danaus plexippus |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Stem Nesting, Supports Generalists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Boulevard, Rain Garden, Restoration, Sandy or Engineered Soils, Shoreline Buffer, Upland Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 5 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Low |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Absent |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |