List of Minnesota Milkweeds
Minnesota Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden
There are fourteen species of Minnesota 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.
1. Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), a Minnesota Milkweed for Dry Soils
Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): Clasping milkweed is native to four counties in the southeast and one in southern Minnesota (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, clasping milkweeds grows in dry woodlands, prairies, meadows, and roadsides that have sandy or gravelly soil. Growing up to 3 feet tall this plant has greenish-pink, red, brown, to purple flowers that bloom from March to September.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, clasping milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9. It can be grown in full sun to part-shade conditions in dry sandy soil. Seeds of clasping milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
2. Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), a Milkweed for Shade and Moist Soil
Poke Milkweed (Ascelpias exaltata): Poke milkweed species is found throughout Minnesota, except for the southwest and northwest (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, this milkweed is found in moist woods, roadsides, and the edges of woods. Growing 2 to 6 feet tall, it is one of the taller milkweeds, and has flowers that are white to green with accents of rose, purple, or blue. The flowers bloom from April to August. It is hardy in zones 3-9.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, poke milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires part-shade to shade, and moist soil. Seeds of poke milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
3. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Swamp milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is found throughout Minnesota (hardy in zones 3-9), while the latter is not found in Minnesota (Kartesz 2015). Like the name suggests, in the wild, this plant is found in wet places such as the shores of streams, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. This is one of the taller milkweeds growing from 3 to 5 feet tall. The flowers which bloom from July to September are generally a pink to red color, but there is also a white cultivar (pictured below).
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, swamp milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires full sun to part-shade and prefers moist to medium moisture soil, but can exist in drier soil as a landscape plant. Seeds of swamp milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
4. Side-Cluster Milkweed (Asclepias lanuginosa), a Milkweed for Full Sun and Medium moisture
Side-cluster Milkweed (Asclepias lanuginosa): Side-cluster milkweed is native in scattered locations except for the north and northeastern Minnesota (Kartesz 2015). Minnesota is the only state in the native range of this plant where it is not rare. In the wild, side-cluster milkweed grows in prairies and sandhills having full sun. The flowers range in color from green to cream and bloom from May to July.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, while side-cluster milkweed is hardy in zones 4-7, it is rare in most of its range and is not in the horticultural trade.
5. Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia): Long-leaf milkweed has two varieties, var. hirtella and var. longifolia. Of these var. hirtella occurs in one county in southern Minnesota and is considered to be rare (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, long-leaf milkweed grows in moist areas and wetlands such as bogs, swamps, flatwoods, and prairies having full sun. Growing from 1 to 2.5 feet tall, the greenish-white flowers bloom from April to July.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, long-leaf milkweed requires full sun and moist to wet soils. It is hardy in zones 4-9.
6. Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia), a Milkweed for Well-drained High pH Soil
Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia): Oval-leaf milkweed is native throughout Minnesota (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, oval-leaf milkweed grows in open areas having full sun or partial shade such as prairies, grasslands, savannas, railroad edges, and alluvial terraces. It is one of the shorter milkweeds in Minnesota, growing to about 2 feet tall. It has white, pink, or green flowers bloom from May to August.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, oval-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 5-9, requires full sun to part-shade and well-drained high pH soil. Seeds of oval-leaf milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
7. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens): Purple milkweed is native in one county in southeastern Minnesota and is considered to be rare (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, purple milkweed grows in moist to dry places having full sun to part shade such as swamps, woodlands, meadows, roadsides, and dry fields. A tall milkweed, it grows up to 6 feet tall and has purple to pink flowers bloom from May to July.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, purple milkweed is hardy in zones 3-8 and requires part-shade, but can handle full sun. Soils should be moist and well-drained, but dry soil can be tolerated. Seeds of purple milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
8. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): Showy milkweed is native throughout Minnesota (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.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, showy milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires places of full sun and medium to dry well-drained soil. Seeds of showy milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
9. Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla): Slim-leaf milkweed is native to one county in southeastern Minnesota and is considered rare (Kartesz 2015). Slim-leaf milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies and sandy areas. It has flowers that are greenish-white that bloom from June to August.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, slim-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun and dry soils. Seeds of slim-leaf milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
10. Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii): Sullivant’s milkweed is native mainly to the southern part of the state and two counties in the center of Minnesota (Kartesz 2015). Sullivant’s milkweed is considered to be rare in Minnesota. This plant grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies, meadows, roadsides, and railroads and was originally associated with tall grass prairies (Minnesota DNR). In June and July the pink to purplish flowers come out for visitors to enjoy.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, Sullivant’s milkweed is hardy in zones 3-7, and requires full sun and medium to dry soils. Seeds of Sullivant’s milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
11. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a Milkweed for all Conditions
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): Common milkweed is native throughout the state (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.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, common milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part shade and can handle most soils. Seeds of common milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
12. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a Milkweed for all Conditions
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Butterfly weed is one of the most common for butterfly gardeners on the east coast of the United States. In Minnesota, it essentially occurs throughout the state, except it is scattered in the northwest. 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.
In your Minnesota buttrfly garden, common milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and places of full sun to part shade. It can handle most types of soil. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
13. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Whorled milkweed is native everywhere except for north and northeastern Minnesota (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.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, whorled milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun and medium to dry soils. Seeds of whorled milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
14. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): Green comet milkweed is native throughout the state except for northern and northeastern Minnesota (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.
In your Minnesota butterfly garden, green comet milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun and medium to dry soils. Seeds of green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
When selecting your Minnesota milkweed, be sure to make sure that it grows in your zone and habitat.
References for Minnesota 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)]