Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' Plant Care Reminders

General Information

• Instruction By	Rhonda Hayes
  Notes	Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnate, "Ice Ballet" is a resilient, adaptable native plant for perennial gardens, butterfly gardens and rain gardens. This milkweed prefers medium to wet soils. It grows from 3-4 feet tall in part to full sun. The beautiful white flower clusters appear in June to July and continue until early fall. Swamp milkweed is a valuable larval plant host for the Monarch butterfly.
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  USDA Zones	1  2a  2b  3a  3b  4a  4b  5a  5b  6a  6b  7a  7b  8a  8b  9a  9b  10a  10b  11  12

Plant Care Instruction

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August

  February 1. Sow Seeds To start by seed requires pre-chilling. Refrigerate for 3 weeks prior to sowing. Barely cover with soil.

  March 1. Buy Container grown Swamp Milkweed becomes available when garden center perennial stock appears. 2. Plant Swamp milkweed can be planted when a light frost is expected, and then through spring to early summer.

  April 1. Prune For bushier plants, pinch tips of stems.

  May 1. Fertilize Swamp milkweed requires little fertilizer, if any.

  June 1. Mulch Mulch during these months to help to conserve soil moisture that swamp milkweed prefers. 2. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch out for aphids. Otherwise swamp milkweed is relatively pest-free.

  July 1. Treat for Pest/Disease Direct a strong hose spray towards aphids. You may want to use soapy water or horticultural soap is problem persists. 2. Propagate Division is not recommended due to delicate tap root.

  August 1. Transplant Transplanting is not recommended due to the delicate tap root. 2. Special requirements Swamp milkweed can proliferate by seed, remove seed heads to avoid re-seeding problems.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! March Container grown Swamp Milkweed becomes available when garden center perennial stock appears.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? March Swamp milkweed can be planted when a light frost is expected, and then through spring to early summer.

  Sow Seeds When can you plant these seeds? When's the best time? Can you start them indoors and move them out? Do they have any special requirements? February To start by seed requires pre-chilling. Refrigerate for 3 weeks prior to sowing. Barely cover with soil.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? May Swamp milkweed requires little fertilizer, if any.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? April For bushier plants, pinch tips of stems.

  Mulch Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? June Mulch during these months to help to conserve soil moisture that swamp milkweed prefers.

  Pest/Disease Inspection What are the common problems this plant will face and when should you look for them to appear? June Watch out for aphids. Otherwise swamp milkweed is relatively pest-free.

  Treat for Pest/Disease How do you treat the common problems for this plant? What products or concoctions or natural means do you use? Any special requirements? July Direct a strong hose spray towards aphids. You may want to use soapy water or horticultural soap is problem persists.

  Transplant When's the best time to dig up and transplant this from one spot to another? (This is different than planting). Any special requirements? August Transplanting is not recommended due to the delicate tap root.

  Propagate When's a good time to divide, take cuttings, layer or propagate this plant. Any special requirements? July Division is not recommended due to delicate tap root.

  Special requirements Any other requirement for this plant? Is there anything that doesn't fit into the other care categories? August Swamp milkweed can proliferate by seed, remove seed heads to avoid re-seeding problems.