Milkweed Plant Size. Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants known as milkweeds named for their latex a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans and many other species primarily due to the presence of cardenolides although as with many such plants there are species that feed upon them i e.
Common milkweed asclepias syriaca is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterflies especially the monarch which deposits its eggs on the milkweed when the caterpillars hatch they feed on the leaves of milkweed. I have just planted swamp milkweed one plant not in a group in my garden. Swamp milkweed is a perennial and a mature plant takes 2 or 3 years can get 3 4 feet wide.
Most species are toxic to humans and many other species primarily due to the presence of cardenolides although as with many such plants there are species that feed upon them i e.
If you have a large garden you could possibly plant in a group but they should be at least 2 3 feet apart. I have just planted swamp milkweed one plant not in a group in my garden. Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants known as milkweeds named for their latex a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides exuded where cells are damaged. Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height with a thin vertical growth habit.