Native Plants of the Great Lakes
North Branch Restoration Project:
Native Plant and Seed Collection
Ascelpias Incarnata / Family:
Asclepiadaceae
Swamp Milkweed, Swink/Wilhelm #4
FLOWERING: Late June to August.
SEED TIMING: Mid-September to October.
HABITAT: Wet or damp areas in full sun or partial shading.
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: 2 - 4 feet tall. Primary leaves
opposite and lanceolate with short petioles. Flowers pink to purple,
in umbels with typical Asclepias intricate, hourglass shape. Milky
juice in stems and leaves.
TO PICK: Seeds with downy parachutes form in erect pods
called follicles. There are typically about one to ten pods per
plant. Follicles are long, slender, pointed, and very slightly
hairy. Ripeness is indicated when pod loses much of its original
green color and/or begins to split open naturally. The seeds also
indicate ripeness if they have become tan or brown. |
