Milkweed Seeds 50+

(Asclepias syriaca). Zones 4 - 7. This milkweed has fascinating two-tiered vivid flowers arrayed in a dense umbel. A five-pointed star or horn-like stamens comprises the upper tier, while the lower tier consists of the petals which bend backward or downward. The two to three foot tall milky sapped plants spread from an underground root system. The bloom from early to mid-summer along road edges and moist areas at the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountain range.

This plant differs from Showy Milkweed (A. speciosa) in having an unbranched stem. The plant contains cardiac glycosides allied to digitalins used in treating some heart disease. These glycosides when absorbed by monarch butterfly larvae whose sole source of food is milkweed foliage make the larvae and adult butterflies toxic to birds and other predators.

Propagation: Common milkweed is easily propagated by both seed and rhizome cuttings. Both seedlings and cuttings will usually bloom in their second year, although cuttings will occasionally bloom during their first year. Common milkweed increases by underground shoots and can be invasive. It is ideal in semi-dry places where it can spread without presenting problems for other ornamental species. Eliminate weeds before planting. Strip off any sod. Cultivate the soil to a fine tilth, firm the soil by treading or rolling, and rake lightly. Seeds can be directly sewn into the ground in the fall.