Jim's Favorite Asclepias Flower Garden Seeds

Asclepias Seed ( Perennial )

Asclepias creates a beautiful butterfly-attracting plant. It has beautiful flower clusters that are flat and easy for butterflies to land on and drink the rich nectar. Being a member of the milkweed family, Butterfly Weed, will attract the monarch butterfly as well as other butterfly varieties.
Plants are hardy and drought resistant. The blooms are followed by seed pods 4-5 inches long containing the seeds with their long silky hairs. The plant will die back to the root crown each winter, and it is slow to emerge in the spring. The foliage is lovely, too, extending its beauty beyond bloom time.

Many gardeners recommend a cold treatment to help Asclepias seeds germinate more quickly. To do this, dampen a paper towel, place the flower seeds on the towel and seal it in a ziploc bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 weeks.
After the cold treatment, start the seeds indoors. Do not cover the flower seeds as they need light to germinate.
Transplant the plants outdoors once temperatures are warm and plants have 4-5 leaves.

Image: Prairie Moon Nursery

IP311 Rose Butterfly Plant ( Asclepias incarnata )

Also commonly called Red Milkweed, Marsh Milkweed, or Swamp Milkweed. That lovely vanilla fragrance you detect coming from large rosy pink flowers possibly hosting several Monarch or Swallowtail butterflies is Rose Milkweed. This deer-resistant plant grows best in moist but will tolerate average soils, and blooms for about a month mid-summer. Later, large pods form which will break open to reveal seeds that will float away in the wind.
If growing Rose Milkweed from seed, try fall planting, or if planting in spring be sure to first moist-cold stratify the seeds for a month. Large numbers of Rose Milkweed can often be seen growing in wetland settings.
Plants grow about 48 inches tall, hardy for zones 3-9. Cannot ship to HI

FT05 Ice Ballet Butterfly Plant ( Asclepias incarnata )

Asclepias Incarnata Ice Ballet is a marvelous long-blooming, bright white cousin of Butterfly Weed. It readily establishes from Asclepias flower seeds, and it produces clear white flowers and dark green foliage. Flowers are long lasting and bloom early summer and into the fall depending on the weather. The flowers, which are heavily laden with nectar and pollen, are particularly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. On plants growing 42 inches tall, hardy to zone 3. Cannot ship to HI

3221 Orange Buttterfly Milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa )

Butterfly weed is a native perennial with flat-topped, orange or yellow flower clusters at the ends of its stems or in its leaf axils. From midsummer to autumn, it produces clusters of brightly colored flowers that attract insects, followed by fruit and showy seed. Plant in a border, meadow, butterfly garden, or wildflower garden.
Very bright orange or yellow flowers. U.S. native. This plant's milky white sap may irritate skin. Its stiff, thick branches may act as treillage to support weaker neighboring plants. Attracts bees and butterflies. At any given time you may see species of Monarch, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Cabbage White, Gray Hairstreak, Western Swallowtail, and many other butterfly varieties feeding on this plant.

Perennial for zones 3-9, grows about 28 inches tall. Cannot ship to HI

IP339 Oscar ( Asclepias physocarpus )

Unusual and abundant cut flower.
Sturdy, gracefully arched branches with neat, bamboo-like foliage. White flowers with lavender-colored centers develop into large papery seed pods. Plants are grown primarily for their 2-3" decorative seed pods, but the big, sturdy plants also make a vigorous and attractive addition to flower beds and borders.
Excellent for large arrangements, dried arrangements, or alone as a centerpiece. Seed pods maintain lime-green color and balloon-like form when dried. Also known as hairy balls, swan plant, swan milkweed, and balloon plant. Grows about 32-72" tall.

Cut long stems with pods to use in fresh and dried floral arrangements. Be sure to not have any leaves on stems below water level.