# swamp milkweed (*Asclepias incarnata*) Swamp milkweed is a pretty flower that grows in wet areas. Its pink blooms attract butterflies and bees, making it a favorite in gardens and nature spots. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Pink milkweed, Rose milkweed ![swamp milkweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Swamp_Milkweed_%28Asclepias_incarnata%29_-_Guelph%252C_Ontario.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swamp_Milkweed_%28Asclepias_incarnata%29_-_Guelph%252C_Ontario.jpg) ## Appearance The swamp milkweed has sturdy, upright stems topped with dense clusters of small, star-shaped flowers. Its blooms range from vibrant pink to rose-purple, contrasting with bright green lance-shaped leaves. It visually stands out with its striking color in wet environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Asclepias ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, \*incarnata\*, means "flesh-colored," describing its lovely pink blooms. - Monarch butterflies \*only\* lay their eggs on milkweed plants, making them super important! - Native Americans once used milkweed fibers for strong ropes and nets, and its roots for medicine. - Some clever insects eat its toxic sap and then use the poisons to defend themselves! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Sap Shield:** Swamp milkweed has a milky, toxic sap that oozes out when damaged, protecting it from most hungry animals. - **Water Lover:** Swamp milkweed can thrive with its roots in very wet, soggy soil where most other plants would struggle to survive. - **Seed Surfer:** Its seeds grow fluffy, silky parachutes that catch the wind, allowing them to travel far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Its caterpillars exclusively feed on swamp milkweed leaves. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees visit the nectar-rich flowers for a sugary snack. - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees gather both nectar and pollen from its many blooms. - **Eaten by:** [Large milkweed bug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-milkweed-bug) (*Oncopeltus fasciatus*) — This bug feeds on the sap and developing seeds of the plant. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low While swamp milkweed is beautiful, it's best to enjoy it from a distance and not touch it too much. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify swamp milkweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is swamp milkweed? 60-150 cm ### How wide does swamp milkweed spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on swamp milkweed? 0.5-1 cm ### When does swamp milkweed bloom? Summer ### Is swamp milkweed edible? No ### Is swamp milkweed toxic? Moderate ### What is swamp milkweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Bear Meadows Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-meadows-natural-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Fox Chase Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fox-chase-farm) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Guilford Historic Town Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guilford-historic-town-center) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/laughing-brook-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Miami Whitewater Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-whitewater-forest) — Ohio, US · Park [View all places to see swamp milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/swamp-milkweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Swamp Milkweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-milkweed)