Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Showy Milkweed is a perennial for mid-border, suited to full sun and loam or sandy soil, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 90 cm |
| Spread | 60 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-9b |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 90 cm, it sits best through the middle of a border, between taller structure behind and edging in front. Give it about 60 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 9b, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Showy 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
- 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:
- Aromatic Asterto edge in front
- Blanket Flower 'Arizona Sun'to edge in front
- Lanceleaf Coreopsisto edge in front
- Prairie Smoketo edge in front
- Pussytoesto edge in front
- Rattlesnake Masterto flower when it does not
Garden styles
Meadow Native Wildlife garden Xeriscape (low-water)
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: