Asclepias incarnata

This milkweed is easily distinguished by its bright pink flowers and long narrow leaves

Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA Add to MyPlants

The swamp milkweed is smooth, with relatively narrow, lance-shaped leaves.  Its magenta-pink flowers form in small umbels and, like other milkweeds, feature a 5-parted crown with five downward-facing petals and five horns emerging from tubular hoods. The curved horns arch over a short central column.  Slender pods, about 4 inches long, contain numerous flat, brown seeds, each equipped with a fluffy parachute. When these pods split open, the seeds are dispersed by the wind. Swamp milkweed thrives in wetlands and swampy areas, and is pollinated by butterflies and bees.

Found in swamps, floodplains, and wet meadows.  Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils.

Present throughout the state.

Range:  From British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador and in most of the United States except the west coast states.

Wetland codes
EMP: OBL
NCNE: OBL



Flowers June to August.

Inflorescence  several clustered umbels

Flowers  5-parted crown: 5 downwardly reflexed pink or magenta petals supporting 5 cream (or pinkish) incurved vertical horns sticking out from cylindrical hoods & arching over a shorter column(containing stamens and carpels) in the center

Leaves  simple, opposite, entire, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate; tapering at the tip; short stalk

Stems  erect, branched above; 3-5 feet long; mostly glabrous

Fruit  slender pod 3 to 4″ long; green when young turning brown at maturity; seeds with white & fluffy parachutes attached

Height  avg. height 4 feet, can grow up to 5 feet

S-rank:  S5 (Secure)
G-rank:  G5 (Secure)

Main pollinators are butterflies and bees.  Monarch caterpillars feed on the leaves.

Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA
Asclepias incarnata gallery
Plant Life-Form
perennial forb
Common Names