Description

Bring the monarch’s favorite milkweed to your garden with this UnCommon offering of Asclepias syriaca, wild-harvested from robust Michigan populations and hand-packed in packets of approximately 50 seeds. Common in name but uncommon in cultivation, A. syriaca is a native perennial with a bold presence, vital ecological role, and vigorous growth habit.

Native Range

Asclepias syriaca is native to the eastern and central United States and southern Canada, thriving from the Great Plains eastward. It grows naturally in open fields, roadsides, prairies, and disturbed soils. This population originates in USDA Zone 5 (Michigan), and the species is broadly suited for USDA Zones 3 through 8.

Growth Notes

This species is clonal and spreading—give it ample space or a boundary if planting near other ornamentals. The plants reach 3–5 feet in height with broad leaves and dense clusters of fragrant, pale pink to purple blooms that are magnets for monarchs, bees, and other pollinators. Over time, it forms colonies through underground rhizomes.

Toxicity Warning:
All parts of A. syriaca contain a white latex sap that can be toxic if ingested by humans and pets. Handle with care if skin sensitivity is a concern, and always supervise children around the plants. Remember, it has also been used as a medicinal for centuries among native populations.

Germination Instructions

Like many temperate-climate natives, A. syriaca benefits from cold stratification to break dormancy. For best results, refrigerate seeds for 30–60 days before sowing. To do this, place seeds in a moist paper towel inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator. After stratification, sow seeds directly in prepared soil in early spring or start indoors in trays. Germination typically occurs within 2–3 weeks at 70°F with consistent moisture.

Why “UnCommon”?
Despite being native across much of North America, true Asclepias syriaca is rarely offered in commercial nurseries due to its assertive nature. Johnny Butterflyseed preserves and distributes this monarch cornerstone in its raw, unrefined form — because common milkweed isn’t truly common anymore.

Plant wild. Reclaim habitat. One packet at a time.