Each year the National Garden Bureau chooses plants of the year. I always look forward to which plants they pick and learning more about each plant. This year among the chosen is Asclepias or milkweed.
The genus name is derived from Asclephius, the Greek god of healing. The common name of Milkweed is due to the milky substance it exudes and there are over 100 species native to North America. In North Dakota, there are 10 native species, and they are often seen in ditches and sunny areas.
Native Americans used milkweeds to make string, rope and cloth from the stem fibers. They would also use Common Milkweed for medicinal purposes as well to treat warts and other ailments. Another historical fact is that milkweed seed floss was used to fill life preservers and other flotation devices during World War II. Today, milkweed floss is used as hypoallergenic filling in pillows and comforters.
Milkweeds are flowering plants that are great pollinator plants! They are the most important plant for monarch survival as the monarch caterpillar feeds exclusively on milkweeds. Females lay their eggs on milkweed and once hatched, the caterpillars feed on the foliage. The milky substance contains cardiac glycosides making them toxic to birds and mammals. The caterpillars become toxic and the predators leave them alone.
There are several species to explore and add to your garden, but the most common species are Common Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, and Butterfly Weed. When adding to a garden setting, it is best to avoid Common Milkweed due to the aggression of spreading it underground through rhizomes. It is a good choice, though, if you need erosion control and will offer whitish-purple flowers. Butterfly weed and Swamp Milkweed are better choices for containment.
Swamp Milkweed grows best in wet soil with full or partial shade and will have pink flowers. Butterfly weed tolerates dry-to-medium soil and has bright orange flowers, and unlike other milkweeds, it doesn’t have milky sap. Butterfly weed would be my personal choice for a garden just to add a bright pop of color.
Growing milkweed is easy! It can be directly seeded or added as a transplant into your garden. It establishes quickly and is a low-maintenance plant. Milkweeds are paired well with native and ornamental grasses along with native perennials such as coneflowers.
For more information about growing milkweed, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at [ndsu.ag/countyoffice](http://ndsu.ag/countyoffice).
