Below are the five types of milkweed growing in my yard. I have over 100 milkweed plants of the following varieties. Despite bunny eating 40 of my newly planted Poke milkweed, I should have plenty of milkweed to feed the monarchs I plan on raising and releasing this year. Check out my Resources page for additional milkweed information cites.
Common Milkweed
Tall perennial with large balls of pink or purplish flowers which bloom from June to August. Common milkweed thrives in full sun and moist soil, reaching 3-5 feet, but can grow taller.
Swamp Milkweed
Perennial with large blossoms of rose to purple flowers clustered at the top of a tall stem. This plant likes sun but is shade tolerant. Swamp milkweed can grow 2-5 feet tall.
Showy Milkweed
A shorter perennial, generally 1 ½ – 3 feet tall with large oval leaves and spherical type clusters with rose colored flowers which bloom May to September. This plant needs lots of sun and is shade intolerant.
Whorled Milkweed
Another shorter perennial, usually 1 – 3 feet tall in height. This plant is single stemmed with narrow, linear leaves whorled around the stem with greenish-white flowers in a more flat-topped cluster.
Tropical Milkweed
Not native to my area, but because it’s so pretty, I plant several every year. They generally do not come back, but I have had some pop up here and there around my yard. The leaves on this plant are similar to the Showy milkweed. Height is generally 2 – 3 feet with bright yellow and orange flower clusters at the top of the plant. Butterflies seem to love to nectar on this plant more than any other in my yard.
Poke Milkweed
Mostly found in woodland and more damp environments. Poke milkweed thrives in indirect sunlight or spotty sunlight. The plant has oval leaves which grow on stems reaching five feet in height. Flower clusters can be bi-colored.