Essential Pollinator Plant: Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), offered by OSC Seeds
Common Milkweed is a vital native Canadian perennial that serves as the sole host plant for monarch butterflies, providing them with a breeding ground and food source for their caterpillars. Its fragrant flowers, rich in nectar and pollen, also attract bees and other pollinators. Growing between 60 and 120 cm tall, this hardy plant thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil. However, its sap contains cardiac glycosides, which are toxic if ingested by humans or animals.
Spread: 45 cm
Plant Height: 60 to 120 cm
Packet Size: Approximately 40 seeds
Companion Plants: Coneflower, black-eyed Susan, vervain
Enemy Plants: None known
How to Grow:
For natural stratification, sow seeds directly outdoors in the fall in sunny, well-drained soil, lightly covering them with earth. For indoor sowing, start in February using a soilless mix. Stratify seeds in a refrigerator for 3 months, then place them at 20°C to germinate in 10 to 18 days. Once germinated, grow under lights at a cooler temperature, harden off seedlings, and transplant outdoors after the last frost.
Common Milkweed is a must-have for pollinator gardens and natural prairies, providing vital support for monarchs while enhancing landscapes with its fragrant blooms.
