Aquatic Milkweed

Asclepias perennis

Aquatic Milkweed is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or moist ground, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Where to use it in a border

At around 60 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 9b and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Aquatic Milkweed's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Allium 'Purple Sensation'to flower when it does not
• American Cranberrybush 'Redwing'for height behind it
• American Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'for height behind it
• Angelita Daisyto edge in front
• Anise/Blue Sagefor height behind it
• Apple 'Bramley's Seedling'for height behind it

Garden styles

Wildlife garden