Asclepias incarnata.
Swamp Milkweed is a perennial wildflower native to much of the United States, where it's often found growing in swamps, marshes, low meadows, and alongside streams and even drainage ditches.
Plant grows to between 3 and 5 feet in height and produces umbelled clusters of pink to pinkish-violet flowers that have have a sweet scent similar to cinnamon or vanilla.
Attracts numerous butterflies and other pollinators, particularly monarch butterflies whose larvae feed exclusively on milkweed. Typically blooms in its second year.
Swamp Milkweed
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade Soil Type: Moist clay Sow Depth: 1/8 inch Plant Spacing: 18 inches Germination Note: Cold stratification required Stratification Time: 30 days Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall Growing Tips
Direct sow just beneath the soil's surface in late fall. Germination will occur after the last spring frost. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and refrigerate for 30 days (cold stratification) before direct sowing.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.