Is Swamp Milkweed deer resistant?
Asclepias incarnata
Plant typePerennialHardinessZones 3–9LightFull sunMature height36–60 inBloomSummer and Fall
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range44 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Swamp Milkweed
A monarch host plant that, despite the name, grows perfectly well in ordinary garden soil as long as it does not dry out completely. Better behaved than common milkweed, which runs. Milky sap deters deer and irritates skin. Emerges late, so mark the spot.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- High
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Swamp Milkweed
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- African LilyAgapanthus sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AsparagusAsparagus officinalisZones 2–9Seldom damaged
- AsterAster sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AstilbeAstilbe x arendsiiZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Baby's BreathGypsophila sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- BastardsageEriogonum wrightiiZones 5–10Seldom damaged
Where Swamp Milkweed grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippi
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montananative
- Wyomingnative
- Idahonative
- Utahnative
- Nevadanative
- Arizona
- New Mexiconative
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 44 US states in total.
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Every list Swamp Milkweed belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Swamp Milkweed
- Is Swamp Milkweed deer resistant?
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Swamp Milkweed grow in?
- Swamp Milkweed is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Swamp Milkweed grow in shade?
- No. Swamp Milkweed wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Swamp Milkweed get?
- Mature height is roughly 36–60 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Swamp Milkweed toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Swamp Milkweed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.