List of Crawford County, PA Milkweeds
There are ten species of native or nearly native Crawford County, PA milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that can be grown for butterflies and other insects. In Crawford County, milkweed is a host species for the Monarch butterfly. The Monarch butterfly 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.
Location of Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County, PA is located in northwestern Pennsylvania, just south of Lake Erie. The major cities in the county include Meadville and Titusville.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County, Pennsylvania is located in plant hardiness zone 6 with most of the county in zone 6a and a few scattered places of zone 6b. When selecting plants you will want to get those that can handle temperatures as cold as -100F to be sure they will survive.
Butterflies in Crawford County, Pennsylvania that are Hosted by Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most iconic butterflies in North America and is a bellweather of changes in the environment. Having a distinctive orange color with black stripes, this butterfly has a wingspan of 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm). The monarch butterfly ingests the toxic cardenolides of the milkweed plants, making it distasteful to predators. It can have several broods in a year and is known for its migrations to Mexico. However, some populations in the south, such as southern California, Arizona, and Florida do not migrate and breed year-round (Urguhart, et al 1968).
1. Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), a Milkweed for Sandy Soils
Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): Clasping milkweed is located in the central and eastern counties of the 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 milkweed has greenish-pink, red, brown, to purple flowers that bloom from March to September. This species is native to the southeast of Crawford County, but can exist in its hardiness zone.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade and moist to dry sandy soils. 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 located throughout Pennsylvania (Kartesz 2015) and is native to Crawford County. 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 in Pennsylvania and has flowers that are white to green with accents of rose, purple, or blue. Blooming occurs from May to August.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires part-shade to full shade and 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): Swamp milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is native throughout Pennsylvania (hardy in zones 3-9) and in Crawford County, while the latter is found in the southeastern counties of the state (hardy in zones 4-9). 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. The flowers are variable and are generally a pink to red color, but there is also a white cultivar (pictured below).
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, the species overall is hardy in zones 3-9. However, in the horticultural trade you will likely get subsp. incarnata, which is hardy in zones 3-9. This milkweed requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Seeds of swamp milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
4. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens): Purple milkweed is scattered around Pennsylvania but is generally in the southern counties (Kartesz 2015). This milkweed is native in northeastern Ohio, just to the west and could be planted in Crawford County. In the wild, purple milkweed grows in swamps, woodlands, meadows, and roadsides. Growing up to 6 feet tall, it is one of the larger milkweeds in Pennsylvania, and has flowers, as the name suggests that are generally purple, but can range from rose to pink, or may start out pink and mature to purple.
In your Crawford County 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.
5. Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia), a Milkweed for Dry Rocky Soils
Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia): Four-leaf milkweed is located throughout Pennsylvania (Kartesz 2015) and is likely native to Crawford County as well. 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, the flowers range from white to pink in color and bloom from April to July.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 5-8 and prefers places where it can enjoy full sun or part-shade and dry rocky soils.
6. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a Milkweed for all Soils
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): Common milkweed is located throughout Pennsylvania (Kartesz 2015) and in Crawford County 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 Crawford County butterfly garden, common 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.
7. 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 Pennsylvania, subspecies interior and tuberosa occur and are native to Crawford County. Both subspecies essentially occur throughout the state, though subsp. interior is more scattered in distribution. 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 Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy from zones 3-9 and requires full sun in any type of soil condition. This is one of two milkweeds in North America that does not have milky sap. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
8. Red-ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata), a Milkweed for Dry Sandy Soils
Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata): Red-ring milkweed is considered to be rare and is located in the eastern half Pennsylvania (Kartesz 2015). While not native in Crawford County and rare, this species could handle the plant hardiness zone of the county. In the wild, red-ring milkweed grows in open disturbed areas such as thickets and roadsides. Growing from 1 to 4 feet tall, it has white colored flowers with a ring of purple to red at the base. The flowers bloom from May to July.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, 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.
9. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soil
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Whorled milkweed is found in the central and eastern counties of the state (Kartesz 2015). While not native to Crawford County, this species can grow in the hardiness zone of the county. In the wild, whorled milkweed grows in open areas such as meadows and fields, where it can take advantage of full sun. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, it has green to white flowers that bloom from May to September.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade with medium to dry soil. Seeds of whorled milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
10. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Sandy Soils
Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): Green comet milkweed is scattered around Pennsylvania, but is generally in the central and southern counties (Kartesz 2015). However, it is native nearby in northeast Ohio and can grow in the hardiness zone of Crawford County. In the wild, green comet milkweed grows in open areas such as meadows and field where there is full sun. Growing up to 3 feet tall, the flowers, which bloom from June to August, begin as a green color but age to become yellow with a purple tinge.
In your Crawford County butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade with medium to dry sandy soil. Seeds of green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
When selecting your Crawford County milkweed, make sure that it grows in your zone and habitat.
Books where you can find out more about Monarchs and Butterfly Gardening in Crawford County, PA
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2022. Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies. Northeast – Nature Friendly Gardens. Adventure Publications. 276 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2022. Garden Bugs & Insects of the Northeast – Identify Pollinators, Pests, and othr Garden Visitors – Adventure Quick Guides. Adventure Publications. 36 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2019. Butterflies of the Northeast – Adventure Quick Guides. Adventure Publications.
- Lorimer, Uli. 2022. The Northeast Native Plant Primer – 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden. Little and Brown. 250 pp.
- Monroe, James L. and David M. Wright. 2017. Butterflies of Pennsylvania – A Field Guide. University of Pittsburgh Press. 304 pp.
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References
- 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)]
- Urguhart, Frederick Albert, Norah Roden Urguhart, and Francis Munger. 1968. Population of Danaus plexippus in Southern California. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 7(4): 169-181.
