Plant Names
Asclepias syriaca
Common Milkweed
Asclépiade commune
Synonyms
silkweed
silky milkweed
asclépiade de Cornut
asclépiade de Syrie
cochons de lait
cotonnier
herbe à la ouate
petits cochons
Plant Characteristics
Couleur de floraison: Rose
Bloom Period: Jun - Aug
Hauteur max: 3,0 feet
Max Width: 3,0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Plus de 6 heures d'ensoleillement par jour
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolère des conditions de sol sec
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Vivace
des plantes qui reviennent année après année
Gardener Experience:
Spreads by rhizome
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is septic tank safe
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
Nous acceptions les semences de cette plante
Faits intéressants
Common Milkweed is best suited for larger or naturalized areas due to its vigorous spreading. While this can make it difficult to manage in small gardens, it can be useful for filling space and competing in open, sunny sites. It supports a wide range of pollinators with its fragrant summer flowers. The large seed pods that follow are also valued for dried arrangements, adding seasonal interest to gardens and natural landscapes.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Oui
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Maritime de l'Atlantique
- Plaines boréales
- Prairies
- Bouclier boréal
- Plaines à forêts mixtes
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Asclepias syriaca
-
Danaus plexippus
Monarch - Monarque -
Trichordestra legitima
Striped Garden Caterpillar
Specialized Bees Supported by Asclepias syriaca
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
- Asclepias (Milkweed Cultivars)
- Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed)
- Butomus umbellatus (Flowering Rush)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Couvrir très légèrement
- Sow by March
- Stratification duration: 30 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: August
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are slightly open and seeds inside are dark
- Harvesting:
- Utiliser la main pour détacher de la tige principale
- Seed viability test:
- Pas de test requis avant le don
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Sécher à l'air dans un sac en papier ou contenant ouvert, pour quelques jours jusqu'à sec
- Secouer de temps à autre pour prévenir la moisissure
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Remove non-seed material
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Toxic to mammals if ingested.
Canadensis