Showy Milkweed Seeds

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is a native perennial wildflower and a primary host plant for Monarch butterflies. It bears clusters of fragrant pink to lavender blossoms above elongated, lance-shaped leaves, drawing butterflies and bees with sweet nectar. Its long taproots help hold soil and resist erosion, making it both beautiful and ecologically useful.

At a glance

• Variety: Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa
• Type: Native perennial wildflower
• Sun: Full sun
• Flowers: Fragrant pink to lavender clusters
• Role: Monarch host plant and pollinator nectar source
• Approx. seeds per pack: 100

Best for

• Monarch butterfly waystations and habitat
• Pollinator and native plant gardens
• Naturalized meadows and borders
• Erosion-prone sites, thanks to deep taproots
• Supporting bees and other beneficial insects

How to grow

Sow in full sun in well-drained soil. Like most native milkweeds, Showy Milkweed germinates best after a period of cold, moist stratification, so fall sowing or chilling the seed before spring planting improves results. Once established, this perennial spreads to form a reliable patch of Monarch habitat year after year.

About Grow Organic

Grow Organic supplies non-GMO seeds, tools, and natural growing products for home gardeners and small farms.