Pollinator plant

Swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

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Common names

25 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
+7 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Rode zijdeplant[2][3]
  • Zijdeplant
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 沼泽乳草[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 沼澤乳草[3]
Danish
  • rosensilkeplante[3]
Estonian
  • kahkjaspunane askleepias[3]
Finnish
  • purppurasilkkiyrtti[3]
Ojibwe
  • Zesab (Bagizowin)[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Ваточник мясо-красный[3]
Slovak
  • glejovka bledokarmínová[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • rosensidenört[3]
Ukrainian
  • Ваточник м'ясо-червоний[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Asclepias incarnata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Swamp Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Marsh Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Swamp Butterfly Weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias incarnata.
[2] Asclepias incarnata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • swamp milkweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Pink Butterfly Plant — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Red Milkweed — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Rose Milkflower — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • rose milkweed — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Swamp Silkweed — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • White Indian Hemp — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • White Milkmaid Butterfly Plant — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Algodoncillo rosa — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Asclépiade incarnate — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Rode zijdeplant — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Asclépia-do-brejo — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
[3] Asclepias incarnata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • swamp milkweed — results[26].names[1]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Pink Butterfly Plant — results[26].names[13]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Red Milkweed — results[26].names[12]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Rose Milkflower — results[26].names[14]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • rose milkweed — results[26].names[2]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Swamp Silkweed — results[26].names[15]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • White Indian Hemp — results[26].names[16]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • White Milkmaid Butterfly Plant — results[26].names[17]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Algodoncillo rosa — results[26].names[8]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Asclépiade incarnate — results[26].names[3]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Rode zijdeplant — results[26].names[7]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Asclépia-do-brejo — results[26].names[4]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • kahkjaspunane askleepias — results[26].names[6]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Zesab (Bagizowin) — results[26].names[9]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • rosensidenört — results[26].names[10]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Ваточник мясо-красный — results[26].names[11]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • rosensilkeplante — results[26].names[18]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • 沼泽乳草 — results[26].names[19]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • purppurasilkkiyrtti — results[26].names[20]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • 沼澤乳草 — results[26].names[21]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • glejovka bledokarmínová — results[26].names[22]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
  • Ваточник м'ясо-червоний — results[26].names[23]; taxon id 125381; Asclepias incarnata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Apocynaceae

Genus-level classification for Asclepias; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Asclepias incarnata.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
C. & E. Canada to WC. & E. U.S.A., Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila).

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Asclepias — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 37484; ID 33PC; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Asclepias incarnata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Asclepias incarnata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 444695; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 691618, 691619, 691620, 691621, 691622, 691623, 691624, 691625, 691626, 691627, 691628, 691629, 691630, 691631, 691632, 691633, 691634, 691635, 691636, 691637, 691638, 691639, 691640, 691641, 691642, 691643, 691644, 691645, 691646, 691647, 691648, 691649, 691650, 691651, 691652, 691653, 691654, 691655, 691656, 691657, 691658, 691659, 691660, 691661, 691662, 691663, 691664, 691665, 691666, 691667, 691668, 691669

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.