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Lavender companion · grow guide
Milkweed · Asclepias incarnata
Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) wants full sun and dry, well-drained soil; swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) wants full sun and moist to wet soil. Both are monarch host plants and are late to wake up in spring.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 5.0–7.5Soil
Zones 3a–9bHardiness
60″ tall36″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits some resistance
Toxic to petsPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Cinderella will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b
Spring after frost, or early fall. Plant butterfly weed where you want it for good; its long taproot hates moving.
Your year with Cinderella
When it arrives
Plugs are small and tender. Pot into 4-inch pots and grow on 3–5 weeks in bright light, or plant out after frost. Keep evenly moist, harden off a week, and set the plug top level with the soil. Handle butterfly weed plugs gently and avoid disturbing the root.
Spring after frost, or early fall. Plant butterfly weed where you want it for good; its long taproot hates moving.
Set butterfly weed's crown buds about 1–2 inches below the soil, taproot straight down. Plant swamp milkweed with the crown at soil level.
Butterfly weed 12–18 inches; swamp milkweed 18–24 inches.
Butterfly weed: sandy, gravelly or lean loam. Swamp milkweed: loam or clay · pH 5.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Butterfly weed rots in wet clay, so plant it on a slope or raised spot without adding compost. Swamp milkweed is happy in heavy, moist soil; just add compost to dry sand.
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
Shade causes leggy stems and fewer flowers for both species.
Don’t give up on it
Both are among the last perennials up, often late May to mid June in Michigan. Mark the spot and don't dig. Shoots appear as thin, reddish stems. Bloom is June–August.
Mark the spot and wait; they emerge very late.
Bloom and caterpillar season; deadhead or let pods form.
Collect seed pods or let them open.
Leave stubs to mark plants; no care needed.
First season: Water weekly the first season. Keep swamp milkweed consistently moist.
After that: Butterfly weed is very drought tolerant; don't water it routinely. Swamp milkweed needs water in dry spells.
Not needed. Fertilizer causes floppy growth, especially for butterfly weed.
Deadhead to extend bloom, or leave pods for seed and monarch value. Cut stems back in late fall or leave until spring; keep a few inches standing so you can find the plant.
Rarely needed. Butterfly weed resents dividing; swamp milkweed can be split in spring if crowded.
Native and hardy across Michigan (about zones 3–9). No protection needed. Wet winter soil is the main killer of butterfly weed.
Both take heat and humidity well. Butterfly weed handles drought; swamp milkweed may need extra water.
No growth by mid MayLikely cause: Normal late emergence
What to do: Wait until mid to late June before giving up; don't dig to check.
Yellow aphid clusters on stemsLikely cause: Oleander aphids
What to do: Hose them off or squish by hand; avoid sprays that harm monarchs.
Chewed or stripped leavesLikely cause: Monarch caterpillars
What to do: Leave them; the plant regrows.
Butterfly weed rots or fades awayLikely cause: Wet or heavy soil
What to do: Replant in a sunny, sandy or raised spot with fast drainage.
Yellowing, collapsing butterfly weed usually means too wet. Wilting, dropping leaves on swamp milkweed means too dry.
ASPCA lists milkweed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, heart rhythm problems). Milky sap can irritate eyes and skin; wash hands.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 3 gallon+
Swamp milkweed does fine in a large pot kept moist. Butterfly weed's taproot needs a deep pot and is better in the ground.
Outdoor plant
Needs a winter dormancy outdoors.
Best after a cold winter
Young plants often bloom lightly the first year and fully after a winter outdoors.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 3 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Butterfly weed can share lavender's sunny, dry bed. Swamp milkweed needs moister soil, so place it nearby in a low spot. Both bring butterflies to the lavender.
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