Asclepis exaltata, Poke Milkweed, Quart Pot, New for 2024

Asclepis exaltata, Poke Milkweed

PS - Shade, Zone 4, Blooms June-July, 5’ x 2-3’, Medium-wet to medium dry, deer resistant

We are very pleased to add a new milkweed variety to our stock. If you have difficult growing conditions that include partial shade to shade and perhaps wetter periods, this is a plant that may work. This hard-to-find milkweed grows to a height of 5’ and is found in woodland conditions of dappled shade to full shade. It also tolerates full sun. The typical milkweed flower clusters, with their light purple cast, droop slightly and attract bees.

Like all milkweeds, this is the essential host plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Monarchs only lay their eggs on Milkweed and the caterpillars only eat Milkweed leaves. Milkweeds attract many kinds of insects and, when blooming, teem with insect activitiy. Not only are bees attracted by the nectar, but it is also many butterflies, including Pearl Crescents, Skippers, Tiger Swallowtails and Great Spangld Fritilaries.

This milkweed forms a deep taproot, so care must be taken to place it in it’s forever home as it will not transplant well. This also means it will not spread aggresively. It spends the first season getting established and may die back early. Once established, though, it will not have any issues and the tap root will protect the plant from drought conditions.