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Common Milkweed

Original price $4.00 - Original price $4.00
Original price
$4.00
$4.00 - $4.00
Current price $4.00

(Asclepias syriaca) Help feed hungry monarchs! Milkweeds are the only food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars, which are in decline partly due to a lack of food and habitat along their migration route. The urban sprawl and monoculture farming that's now ubiquitous across North America often doesn't leave much room for the wild spaces both milkweed and monarchs need to make their living. Every summer we see a few dozen monarch butterflies in our common milkweed patch.

3'-4' perennial plants, with fragrant clusters of flowers loved by bees. The young shoots are edible (and quite tasty). Plants spread aggressively with rhizomes. 50+ seeds

-Grown by Annapolis Seeds

Keep in mind, this is the native but potentially invasive Common Milkweed, so plant it in a corner it can go wild without being in the way. For a "better behaved" species that won't take over your garden, I'd suggest Swamp Milkweed
.


Growing Info
Stratification 30 days cold/moist treatment (optional)
Sowing Indoors in spring, we start ours early April. Alternatively, can be direct sown outdoors in autumn for germination in spring
Transplant outdoors After risk of frost
Spacing 12-18" between plants
Soil requirements Average fertility - Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.
Light Full sun to part shade
Life cycle Perennial
Cold hardiness Zone 3