Growing Showy Milkweed. Showy milkweed is a native herbaceous perennial from widespread rhizomes which produce stems that grow to 1 to 5 ft tall in summer. Planting milkweed is the most effective way to help because it is the only plant that sustains a monarch through each of its life stages.
Planting milkweed is the most effective way to help because it is the only plant that sustains a monarch through each of its life stages. The bloom on your plant will vary on the timing and duration of the bloom. The flowers occur on stalks from the leaf axils and at the top of upright stems.
The plant is self fertile.
Propagation by rhizome cuttings is easy and reliable. Asclepias speciosa is a perennial growing to 0 8 m 2ft 7in by 0 6 m 2ft. If you don t want additional seedlings next spring simply cut off the seed pods before they pop open or bind them shut with twist ties or rubber bands if you want to collect showy milkweed seeds. Showy milkweed asclepais speciosa torr.