swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata Bloom time: July - September
Bloom Color: Pink to mauve
Height: 2-5 ft
Sun exposure: Full/Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet
Deer resistant: Yes
Other Common Names: Rose milkweed, Rose milkflower, March milkweed, White Indian hemp, Pink milkweed
Germination code: C30
Fun facts: The genus name ‘Asclepios’ is named after Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. The silky-haired seed fluff (comas) attached to milkweed seeds is six times more buoyant than cork and five times warmer than wool. Large amounts were harvested during World War II to stuff lifejackets and flight vests. Native American tribes like the Chippewa, Iroquois, and Meskwaki used roots and plant extracts in small amounts as a de-worming agent and applied root infusions externally to heal babies’ navels. It earned historical fame as “pleurisy root” because people used brews of the plant to treat lung and breathing issues.
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