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12 Beautiful Michigan Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) to Grow for Monarch Butterflies

Michigan Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden

There are twelve species of Michigan milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that can be grown for Monarch Butterflies and other insects. Milkweeds are an important host species for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies. The Monarch butterfly in particular uses the cardenolides found in the milky sap of milkweeds to give an unpleasant taste to predators. These plants are also an important nectar source to all insects visiting your pollinator garden. Michigan is divided into the lower and upper peninsulas by Lakes Michigan and Huron. For purposes of clarity, distributions are given using these peninsulas.

1. Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), a Michigan Milkweed for Dry Soils

Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): This Michigan milkweed is native to the western and south-central counties of the lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, clasping milkweed grows in dry woodlands, prairies, meadows, and roadsides that have sandy or gravelly soil. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this milkweed has greenish-pink, red-, brown, to purple flowers that bloom from March to Spetember.

In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to partial shade having dry sandy/rocky soil. Seeds for this species can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) with pink flowers in a wooded area.
Clasping Milkweed in a wooded area — Mason Brock (Masebrock), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pinkish flowers of clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) in a field.
Pink Flowers of Clasping Milkweed — cassi saari, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Reddish-pink flowers of clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) in a field.
Pinkish Flowers of Clasping Milkweed — “Asclepias amplexicaulis – Clasping Milkweed” by FritzFlohrReynolds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

2. Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), a Michigan Milkweed for Shade and Moist Soils

Poke Milkweed (Ascelpias exaltata): This Michigan milkweed is native in both the lower and upper peninsulas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, poke milkweed grows in moist woods, roadsides, and edges of woods. Reaching a height of 2 to 6 feet, it is one of the taller milkweeds in Michigan and has flowers that are white to green with accents of rose, purple, or blue. The flowers bloom from May to August.

In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires part-shade to full shade in moist soil. For shade gardens, this is a choice milkweed. Seeds for this milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Greenish-white flowers of poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) in a wooded area.
Flowers of Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) — Dendroica cerulea, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plant of poke milkweed with white flowers in a wooded habitat.
Plant of Poke Milkweed in a Wooded Area — “Asclepias exaltata” by kevinliam is marked with CC0 1.0.
White flowers of poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) in a wooded area.
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) with White Flowers — homeredwardprice, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a Michigan Milkweed for Moist Soils

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): This Michigan milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is native throughout the state (hardy in zones 3-9), while the latter is native to one county in Michigan in the northeastern lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). Like the name suggests this plant is found in wet places such as the shores of streams, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. However, as a landscape plant it can exist in drier places. Growing from 3 to 5 feet tall, the flowers are variable and are generally a pink to red color, but there is also a white cultivar (pictured below).

In a garden setting, swamp milkweed requires full sun to part-shade and prefers moist to medium moisture soil, but can exist in drier soil. Seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Pink flowers of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) from Pennsylvania.
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) with Pink Flowers — Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 'Ice Ballet' cultivar.
‘Ice Ballet’ Cultivar of Swamp Milkweed — Photo by and (c)2009 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons
Follicles (fruits) of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in a garden.
Follicles — “Swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, asclepias incarnata, new England native garden” by sapienssolutions is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

4. Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia), a Michigan Milkweed for Moist Soils

Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia): This Michigan milkweed has two varieties, var. hirtella and var. longifolia. Of these var. hirtella is rare and occurs in scattered counties in the lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). The other variety is not located in Michigan. In the wild, long-leaf milkweed grows in moist areas and wetlands such as bogs, swamps, flatwoods, and prairies having full sun. Reaching a height of 1 to 2.5 feet tall, the greenish-white flowers bloom from April to July.

In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 4-9 and requires full sun and needs moist to wet soils.

Purple flowers of long-leaf milkweed (Asclepias longifolia).
Long-leaf Milkweed with Purple Flowers — Asclepias longifolia Michx. observed in United States of America by Justin (licensed under CC0 1.0)
Yellowish-pink flowers of long-leaf milkweed (Asclepias longifolia).
Yellowish Flowers of Long-leaf Milkweed — Public Domain Image
Pink flower cluster of long-leaf milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) in an open area.
Plants of Long-leaf Milkweed in an Open Area — Asclepias longifolia Michx. observed in United States of America by cnagele (licensed under CC0 1.0)

5. Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia)

Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia): This Michigan milkweed is native and rare in one county (Menominee County) in the upper peninsula of state (Kartesz 2015). Oval-leaf milkweed grows in open areas having full sun or partial shade such as prairies, grasslands, savannas, railroad edges, and alluvial terraces. The white, pink, or green flowers bloom from May to August and the plant is hardy in zones 5-9. Seeds of oval-leaf milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of oval-leaf milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia) with white flowers.
Oval-leaf Milkweed with White Flowers — Asclepias ovalifolia Decne. observed in United States of America by msieges (licensed under CC0 1.0)
Pinkish-white flowers of oval-leaf milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia).
Flowers of Oval-leaf Milkweed — Justin Meissen from St Paul, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plant of oval-leaf milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia) in a field.
Oval-leaf Milkweed (Ascelpias ovalifolia) in a field — USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

6. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens): This Michigan milkweed is native and rare in the south-central and central parts of the lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). This plant grows in moist to dry places having full sun to part shade such as swamps, woodlands, meadows, roadsides, and dry fields. The purple to pink flowers bloom from May to July and it is hardy in zones 3-8. Seeds for purple milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Close-up of pinkish-purple flowers of purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens).
Pinkish-purple Flowers of Purple Milkweed — Steepcone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Plants of purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens).
Group of Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) in a garden — peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plant of purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) with purple flowers.
Purple Milkweed with Purple Flowers — Asclepias purpurascens L. observed in United States of America by Jim Bowhay (licensed under CC0 1.0)

7. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): This Michigan milkweed is adventive to one county (Mackinac County) in the upper peninsula (Kartesz 2015). Showy milkweed grows in open areas such as roadsides, fields, and woodlands that are mesic to dry. It has flowers that are purple to pink in color and bloom from April to June. This plant is hardy in zones 3-9. Seeds for showy milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Pinkish flowers of showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa).
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) with Pink Flowers — Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pinkish-white flowers of showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa).
Close-up of Pink Flowers of Showy Milkweed — Asclepias speciosa Torr. observed in Canada by markeambard (licensed under CC0 1.0)
Follicle of showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa).
Showy Milkweed Follicle — John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

8. Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii): This Michigan milkweed is native and rare in the southeast and eastern parts of the lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). Sullivant’s milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies, meadows, roadsides, and railroads. In June and July the pink to purplish flowers come out and it is hardy in zones 3-7. Seeds of this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of sullivant's milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii) with pink flowers.
Sullivant’s Milkweed in a field — Asclepias sullivantii Engelm. ex A.Gray observed in United States of America by Nancy Navarre (licensed under CC0 1.0)
Plant of sullivant's milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii) in a field.
Pink Flowers of Sullivant’s Milkweed — Asclepias sullivantii Engelm. ex A.Gray observed in United States of America by samk (licensed under CC0 1.0)
Herbarium specimen of sullivant's milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii).
Herbarium Specimen — Asclepias sullivantii Engelm. ex A.Gray Collected in United States of America by The New York Botanical Garden (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

9. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): This Michigan milkweed is native throughout the state on both peninsulas (Kartesz 2015) and is found in open areas such as fields, pastures, and roadsides, where it can receive full sun. The flowers range from pink, greenish-purple, greenish-white, to white and bloom from June to August. It is hardy in zones 3-9. Seeds of this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Flowers of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a North Carolina milkweed.
Pink Flowers of Common Milkweed in McMullen House Garden — Robert Coxe, Image
Plant of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with pink flowers.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with pink flowers — Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with eastern tiger swallowtail.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Common Milkweed — Author Image

10. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): This Michigan milkweed is one of the most common for butterfly gardeners on the east coast of the United States. Butterfly weed has three subspecies, two of which, subsp. interior and subsp. tuberosa occur in Michigan. Subspecies interior is located throughout the lower peninsula and one county in the upper peninsula. Subspecies tuberosa is located in one county (Kalamazoo County) in the lower peninsula. The flowers are characteristically orange and bloom throughout the summer and sometimes into the autumn. It grows in open areas with full sun such as fields, roadsides, and open woods and is hardy from zones 3-9. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Orange flowers of butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
Butterfly Weed with Orange Flowers — Robert Coxe, Image
Monarch butterfly on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
Butterfly Weed with Monarch Butterfly — Laura Perlick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Follicles of butterfly weed showing seeds.
Butterfly Weed Follicle — User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

11. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): This Michigan milkweed is native in scattered locations in the lower and upper peninsulas (Kartesz 2015). Whorled milkweed has green to white flowers that bloom from May to September. Like a lot of other milkweeds it grows in open areas such as meadows and fields, where it can take advantage of full sun. It is hardy in zones 3-9. Seeds for this plant can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Close-up of white flowers of whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata).
White Flowers of Whorled Milkweed — Joshua Mayer (wackybadger), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Leaves of whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata).
Leaves and Stem of Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) — Frank Mayfield (gmayfield10), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
White flowers of whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) in a field.
Plant of Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) with White Flowers — Mason Brock (Masebrock), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

12. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)

Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): This Michigan milkweed is native mostly to the south-central lower peninsula and scattered in the northwestern part of the lower peninsula (Kartesz 2015). The flowers, which bloom from June to August, begin as a green color but age to become yellow with a purple tinge. The habitat includes open areas such as meadows and field where there is full sun. It is hardy in zones 3-9. Seeds for green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of green comet milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora).
Plant of Green Comet Milkweed with Flower Buds –Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Greenish-white flowers of green comet milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora).
Flowers of Green Comet Milkweed — Barnes Dr Thomas G, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Leaves of green comet milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora).
Green Comet Milkweed Leaves — Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

When selecting your Michigan milkweed, be sure to make sure that it grows in your zone and habitat.

References for Michigan Milkweeds

  • Kartesz, J.T. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. Link to website. Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]

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Robert Coxe

Robert Coxe is a professional ecologist and botanist who has worked as the State Ecologist of Delaware and as an ecologist for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He is also a former Past-President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. He currently is an innkeeper at McMullen House Bed & Breakfast LLC and a web designer and owner for Silphium Design LLC.