How to Grow Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Your complete guide to growing Common Milkweed.
When to Plant Common Milkweed
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
Companion Plants for Common Milkweed
✓ Good companions
Blooms at similar times, attracts complementary pollinators and beneficial insects
Extends late-season nectar sources for monarchs and other pollinators
Attracts monarch butterflies and provides tall backdrop structure
Provides structural support and creates natural prairie ecosystem conditions
Provides ground cover and creates natural prairie plant community
Attracts beneficial pollinators and creates habitat diversity for monarch butterflies
Attracts different pollinator species and provides nectar when milkweed is not blooming
Fixes nitrogen in soil and supports different butterfly species
✗ Keep away from
Aggressive invasive that can outcompete and smother native milkweed plants
Invasive wetland plant that crowds out native species and alters habitat
Releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit growth of native plants including milkweed