Species White Milkweed
white flowers with brown center, yellow-pink buds, lime leaves and yellow-green stems

White Milkweed

Asclepias variegata

White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) is an herbaceous perennial with white, fragrant flowers and deep green foliage. This North American native plant is drought-tolerant and grows in a variety of habitats, including meadows, prairies, and open woodlands. The tall stalks are topped with white waxy flowers with golden-yellow centers, which bloom from late spring to summer. Its thin, clustered leaves are used as food by several species of caterpillars. White Milkweed's bright, cheery blossoms are sure to bring beauty to any garden.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Root Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Fruits:

Fruits Ready In

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow,purple,pink

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

White Milkweed should be watered when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. Water the soil thoroughly until the moisture has been absorbed. Watering deeply and less frequently is often preferred to frequent or shallow watering. Generally, this species should be watered about once a week during the summer months. In the cooler months average water requirements may be reduced to every 2 weeks or longer, depending on rainfall and temperatures.

sunlight

White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) should be grown in full sunlight. It requires a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. During the summer, full sun exposure is required for the best bloom display of this plant species. On particularly hot summer days, it is recommended to provide protection from intense afternoon heat with light, filtered shade. During the winter months, depending on your climate, White Milkweed will still need some sun exposure to keep its vibrant colour.

pruning

White Milkweed plants should be pruned during late winter or early spring. This will help promote the growth of new shoots which will flower during the late summer. It is important to be careful when pruning to avoid damaging the plant, as it can be killed by hard pruning. The amount of pruning can vary depending on the size of the plant. Smaller plants should only have light pruning done, while larger plants may require more aggressive sculpting and cutting back to promote new growth. It is important to make sure that no more than 1-third of the plant’s total height is removed during each pruning session to avoid stressing the plant and stunting growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Asclepias variegata, or White Milkweed, typically begins in July and continues through August.