List of Ohio Milkweeds
Ohio Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden
There are thirteen species of Ohio milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and one species that is adventive 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 Milkweed for Dry Soils
Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): This Ohio milkweed species is native to the southern and northern counties of state (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 plant has greenish-pink, red, brown, to purple flowers that bloom from March to September.
In youe Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade with 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 Soils
Poke Milkweed (Ascelpias exaltata): Poke milkweed is native throughout Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, poke milkweed grows in moist woods, roadsides, and the edges of woods. Growing from 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 May to August.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, 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 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): This Ohio milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is native thoughout the state (hardy in zones 3-9), while the latter is not found in Ohio (Kartesz 2015). Like the name suggests this milkweed 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 your Ohio butterfly garden, swamp milkweed requires full sun to part shade and prefers moist to medium moisture soil, but it can exist in drier soil. Seeds of swamp milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
4. 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 the southern counties with some disjunct locations in the northern counties of Ohio (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 Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 4-9, requires full sun and needs moist to wet soils.
5. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens): Purple milkweed is native throughout Ohio (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. Growing up to 6 feet, it is a tall milkweed having purple to pink flowers that bloom from May to July.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-8 and generally requires part-shade but can handle full sun if needed. 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.
6. Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia), a Milkweed for Dry Rocky Soils
Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia): Four-leaf milkweed is native throughout Ohio, except for scattered locations in the northwest. In the wild, four-leaf milkweed grows in open areas such as roadsides, pastures, and prairies that have some disturbance. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this plant has flowers that range from white to pink in color and bloom from April to July.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed prefers places where it can enjoy full sun or part-shade and dry rocky soils and is hardy in zones 5-8.
7. Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii): Sullivant’s milkweed is native to the central and northwestern counties of Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, sullivant’s milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies, meadows, roadsides, and railroads and was originally associated with tall grass prairies (Minnesota DNR). Growing from 2 to 5 feet tall the pink to purplish flowers bloom in June to July.
In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-7 and requires full sun with medium to dry sandy soil. Seeds of Sullivant’s milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
8. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a Milkweed for all Soils
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): Common milkweed is native throughout Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, common milkweed grows in open areas such as fields, pastures, and roadsides, where it can receive full sun. Growing up to 6 feet tall, it is a tall milkweed having flowers ranging from pink, greenish-purple, greenish-white, to white and blooming from June to August.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade and any type of soil. Seeds of common milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
9. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a Milkweed for all Soils
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Butterfly weed is one of the most common for butterfly gardeners on the east coast of the United States. In Ohio, subspecies interior and subspecies tuberosa occur. The former occurs throughout the state, while the latter is scattered. In the wild, butterfly weed grows in open areas with full sun such as fields, roadsides, and open woods. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, it has characteristically orange flowers that bloom throughout the summer and sometimes into the autumn.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy from zones 3-9 and requires full sun in any type of soil condition. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
10. Red-ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata), a Milkweed for Dry and Rocky Soils
Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata): Red-ring milkweed is considered rare in the state and is native in the south-central counties and one northern county in Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, red-ring milkweed grows in open disturbed areas such as thickets and roadsides. Growing from 1 to 4 feet tall, the white flowers have a ring of purple to red at the base and bloom from May to July.
In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and prefers part-sun to light-shade and dry sandy or rocky soils. Seeds of red-ring milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
11. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soil
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Whorled milkweed is native in scattered counties throughout Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, whorled milkweed grows in open areas such as meadows and fields, where it takes advantage of full sun and has green to white flowers that bloom from May to September.
In a garden setting, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires full sun to part-shade and medium to dry soil. Seeds of Whorled Milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
12. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Sandy Soils
Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): Green comet milkweed is native in scattered counties around Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, green comet milkweed, grows in open areas such as meadows and fields where there is full sun. Growing up to 3 fee tall, it has flowers that start out green and age to become yellow and purple tinged that bloom from June to August.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade and medium to dry sandy soil. Seeds of green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
13. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry High pH Soils
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis): Green milkweed is native to the southern counties of Ohio (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, green milkweed grows in open areas such as glades, prairies, roadsides, and pastures where there is full sun. Growing from 0.5 to 2 fee tall, it has green, yellowish-green, or white flowers that bloom from April to October.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 5-9 and require medium to dry soils having a high pH. Seeds of green milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
An Additional Ohio Milkweed that is Adventive to the State
1. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), an Adventive Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): Showy milkweed has been introduced (adventive) to one county in the northern part of the state (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, showy milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as roadsides, pastures, and fields. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this plant has flowers that are purple, pink to white and bloom from May to June.
In your Ohio butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires places of full sun having medium to dry well-drained soil. Seeds of showy milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
When selecting your Ohio milkweed, be sure to make sure that it grows in your zone and habitat.
References for Ohio 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)]
