GROWING MILKWEED
Growing milkweed in your garden is either extremely easy (it just materializes of out nowhere!) or difficult (it’s
not the spot you’d really like it to be...) There seems to be no in between.
Perennial Milkweed:
Most milkweed (there are approximately 110 varieties in North America that produce the milky sap known as
latex) is tropical and can be grown as annuals in Canada. There are some varieties that are perennials in the
United States and Canada. Some of these include:
Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) - can grow to 5 feet tall. Robust broad-leafed plant. Spreads.
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) - grows to 3-4 feet tall. Narrower leaves. Spreads slowly.
Ascelpias tuberosa (butterfly weed) - grows 12- 24 inches high.
The best way to try to start common milkweed is by transplanting very early in the spring. Milkweed is
finicky about being transplanted, so it is important to dig them up as soon as you see them sprouting in the
spring, water their roots extremely well, and plant again immediately. They have a long horizontal root
(runner) that must be dug up about six inches on either side of the vertical stalk. This is important for a
successful transplant. Plant with the horizontal (lateral) root about five inches down. Water, tamp soil back in
and water again. Keep watering for about two weeks after and again if no rain appears.
Another way is to start the plants from seed. Most milkweed seed needs to be vernalized, which means that
they need to go through a period of cold. Keep seeds, harvested in the fall when the pods are about to open
and seeds are brown, outdoors for the winter, away from mice. It has also been said that they can go in the
freezer for eight weeks.
I separate the fluff from the seeds by placing pods in a paper bag, holding closed and shaking. Cut a small
hole in corner of bag and pour seeds into a smaller paper bag. I keep mine in a box that allows air and
moisture to transfer (but not enough to get bags wet) and I store in the garage or barn, where they will be
subjected to freezing temps. One year I had a bag in the trunk of my car for the winter. This kept them away
from the mice.
About 7-14 days before you wish to plant, put the seeds between damp paper towels and in a paper bag in
the crisper drawer of your fridge. It is recommended that you start the seeds in March indoors in thoroughly
soaked soil-less mix. I have used just plain potting soil. Before planting, put the seed in a container that has
plain sand in it and shake for about 30 seconds. This abrades the surface a bit, helping the seed to germinate.
Once the seeds have germinated and are about 4-5 inches high, gradually expose them to more and more
sunlight, putting them in a sheltered spot for the day, bringing in at night, same as you would raising other
flowers or veggies. They can be planted after the danger of frost had passed. Put in a sunny location where
you do not mind if they will spread. They will, slowly, but inexorably. Water well. They will settle in, establish
roots, and bloom the next year.
It is well worth it to check out the Monarch Watch link on growing milkweed. The basics are explained there
and a bit more detail is given.
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/prop.htm
Credit: www.monarchcanada.org/milkweed.htm
Italics are my own statements, from my own experience.
Loretta Shigo www.monarchjourney.com
www.facebook.com/Monarch.Journey