Native Plant of the Month-
Swamp Milkweed
(
Asclepias incarnata
)
Swamp Milkweed has beautiful pink flowers that not only attract Monarchs (that use the plant to lay their eggs), but countless other species of insects, including many different species of native bees. It prefers moist soils, grows 3-4 feet, and blooms from June-September. It has narrower leaves than most milkweed species, making it easy to identify. Like other milkweed species, the flowers form into seed pods that break open, releasing seeds that are carried off by a stiff breeze. Monarch caterpillars use this plant as a host and eat the leaves to become unpalatable to predators.