Common Milkweed Seed Pods (Asclepias syriaca) Non-GMO Farm Fresh 6 Pods
Brand: Generic
Color: Green, white, brown
Common milkweed, otherwise known as Asclepias syriaca, is a host plant for Monarch butterflies. They lay their eggs on milkweed so that the caterpillars that hatch can eat the leaves to grow and ultimately become butterflies. Asclepias syriaca is native to most of the US states that are east of the Rocky Mountains (the western exception is Oregon where it has naturalized) and into Canada. It is frequently found in meadows, roadsides, railways, around fence posts, etc, and is hardy in USDA zones 4-9. It is less frequent in the Deep South and is not native to Florida. Asclepias syriaca usually has just a single stalk and can grow from 2-6 feet tall. The leaves are large and the flowers are pretty pink shades with a very pleasant fragrance. It starts flowering in midsummer and flowers into the fall. The seed pods are popular for use in dried arrangements and crafts.
Common milkweed likes full sun but may tolerate some shade. It will grow in a wide range of soils including clayey, rocky or sandy and prefers good drainage. The water requirements range from dry to medium moisture.
Asclepias syriaca is best suited for meadows, naturalized areas, prairies or butterfly gardens. Most gardeners would not want to put this plant in a border or an ornamental garden due to its underground spreading.
It can hybridize with Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) if they are grown in the same area.
To germinate Common Milkweed seeds, the seeds will first need to be cold stratified. This makes it a great candidate for fall/winter sowing. The seeds need to be cold stratified for at least 30 days but 60 days of stratification may improve germination rates even further. Plant these seeds about 1/8 of an inch deep.
Seedlings should start appearing in a week or two but germination can be slow and may continue over several additional weeks.