General
Perennial plants also known as Orange Milkweed.
Latin
Ascelpias tuberosa
Family: Apocynaceae
Note: Do not confuse this species with the invasive weeds Asclepias speciosa and A. syriaca.
Difficulty
Easy
Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: 3-10
Timing
Sow indoors late February to the end of March and transplant or direct sow towards late April. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-35 days.
Starting
Barely cover the small seeds using sterilized seed starting mix. Space transplants 30-60cm (12-24") apart.
Growing
When transplanted seedlings are 10-15cm (4-6") tall, pinch back the growing tip to encourage multiple flowering points. Asclepias tuberosa prefers dry, sandy conditions or any average garden soil in full sun. Plants grown from seed bloom in the first year. They can be pulled up in fall and treated like annuals to prevent spreading. Asclepias does not divide well. A good choice for xeriscaping.
Note: All parts of the plant are harmful if eaten. Flowers are not edible.
