Showy milkweed care

 

This plant called showy milkweed can help you put on a show in your yard in 2 respects. The plant bears lovely flowers that are worth growing for their own sake. Secondly, showy milkweed plant is also a great plant for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, actually these are wonderful creatures that put on a show of their own. Below is the basic information about showy milkweed plant;

The botanical name: The botanical name is Asclepias speciosa.

 The common name: The common name is Showy milkweed.

The plant type: The plant is herbaceous perennial.

 The mature size: The mature size is about 1 to 3 feet tall.

 The sun exposure: The plant prefers full sun.

 The soil type: The plant does well in average fertility well-drained soil.

 The soil pH: The plant is not fussy about soil pH.

The blooming time: The blooming time is May to June.

The flower color: The flower colors are rosey-purple and pink.

 Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9

 The native area: The plant is native to Western North America.

 

Showy milkweed care

This plant is easy to grow. Showy milkweed tolerates drought and also soils that are low in fertility. In fact Showy milkweed plants perform better in low fertility soil than it does in soils that are wet and very fertile.

Light requirement: The plant blooms best if given full sun.

 

Soil requirement: Actually the main soil requirement for this plant is good drainage.

 

Water requirement: Make sure you don’t overwater the plant once it is established. The plant actually prefers a soil that is somewhat on the dry side.

 

Fertilizer requirement: There is actually no need to fertilize this plant. Even too much fertilizer can result to low performance of the plant.

 

Varieties of showy Milkweed

The following are some of the varieties of showy milkweed;

 

1.    The Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) variety: The Common milkweed is about two to four feet in height, it has pink-purple color.

2.    The Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) variety: The Butterfly weed is about one to two feet in height, light orange in color.

3.    The Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate) variety: The Swamp milkweed is about four to five feet in height, the colors are mauve, pink, or white.

4.    The Sandhill milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) variety: The Sandhill milkweed is about one to three feet in height, the colors are pink, lavender, or white.

Furthermore, some of the varieties of showy milkweed plants are poisonous to humans and pets, for this reason deer pests usually leave them alone.

 

Showy milkweed uses

Showy milkweed plants have a number of medicinal uses. The plant have traditionally been used to treat the following; Snakebite, Colic, Rash, Diarrhea, Sore throat and Swelling.