Asclepias Speciosa, also known as "showy milkweed," typically reaches a height of two to four feet and has a clumping growth habit in which multiple stems emerge from a single rootstock. The flowers are pink to purple and grow in large, umbrella-shaped clusters at the top of the stems. The leaves are large, oval-shaped, and slightly hairy. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, among other pollinators, find the flowers very appealing.
This asclepias produces large, elongated seed pods that can be up to 5 inches long, making them one of its most distinctive characteristics. When they reach maturity, the pods split open, dispersing hundreds of silky seeds into the wind.
Common Names: asclepias speciosa toor, showy milkweed, butterfly weed
Speciosa Asclepias Plant Care Instructions: Keep the plant well-watered for the first 3-4 weeks after transplanting. After that, only water if the plant starts looking droopy. Deadheading the first flush of flowers promotes additional blooms. If you don't want the plant to self-seed, remove all flowers once they are finished blooming. Plants can be cut back to the ground once they drop their leaves. Spring is a good time to fertilize.
