This towering wildflower perennial is a crucial larval food source and habitat for the endangered Monarch butterfly.
The Asclepias speciosa, ‘Showy milkweed’ is a native, late-spring to late-summer bloomer. Standing between 1 – 1.5 metre tall, this eye-catching wildflower with its globular cluster of stars is attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, most particularly, the Monarch butterfly.
By fall, this milkweed will completely transform into an equally fascinating puffball of hairy seed pods. This species self-seeds and spreads via its rhizomatous roots.
Asclepias speciosa can be found growing naturally in meadows and grasslands in Western and Central North America, and is particularly abundant in the prairies. It is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, but doesn’t fare well in shade, much preferring partial to full sun
Visitors to the Garden can locate the ‘Showy milkweed’ growing in its ideal conditions in the Cascadia garden.