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Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

CommonPlant
Illustration of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed grows in wetlands and along stream edges, producing clusters of bright pink-to-mauve flowers in summer. It is one of the most important milkweeds for monarch butterflies in the eastern United States, providing both larval food and adult nectar. The seed pods split open in fall to release seeds with silky white hairs.

Habitat
Wetland margins, stream banks, and moist meadows
Diet
Monarch butterfly larval host; nectar for bees, wasps, and butterflies
How common
Common

Best time to see a Swamp Milkweed

The best time to see a Swamp Milkweed is June–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 37,780 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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