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Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata L.)

Also known as rose milkweed.

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Swamp Milkweed
Photo © stephen, CC BY 4.0.

Summary

A perennial of wet habitats, native to a wide range across North America.

Range - Expand

LegendColor
Native
Native or Not Present

This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.

Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.

Habitat

Prefers full to partial sun and moist to wet conditions, and rich soils that hold moisture, but tolerates a moderate range of condition. Tolerates temporary flooding and dry conditions, but cannot tolerate prolonged flooding or drought.

Found in swamps, open areas in floodplains, wet meadows and prairies, near seeps or in drainage ditches. Found both in intact wild areas and disturbed and human-altered habitats.

Notes

The common name "rose milkweed" references the frequently-rose-colored flowers; we prefer the name "swamp milkweed" because it communicates more information about this species' habitat preferences, because the color of this species' flowers can vary considerably, and also because there are other milkweeds with similar, overlapping flower colors.

Swamp Milkweed | Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata | Go Botany (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) | Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata | NatureServe Explorer (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata | Missouri Plants (About This Site)

Swamp Milkweed | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)

Swamp Milkweed (incarnata) | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)

Swamp Milkweed (pulchra) | Maryland Biodiversity Project (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) | Minnesota Wildflowers (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata L. (Swamp Milkweed) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata L. var. incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)

Asclepias incarnata L. var. pulchra (Ehrh. ex Willd.) Pers. (Swamp Milkweed) | Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (About This Site)

Photo gallery

Photo © stephen, CC BY 4.0.
Photo © Brad Grimm, CC BY 4.0.