Ontario Wildflowers website

Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata

Family: Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae), (Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae))

Group: Milkweeds

Distinctive features: Wet areas. Narrow lance-shaped leaves. Milky sap. Very tough stem fibers when dried.

Similar species:
  •   Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)


Flowers: Summer;  Red/Pink;  5 parts (petals);  Pink to rose-purple.

Leaves: Narrower than Common Milkweed, simple.

Height: 50-100 cm (19-39 in)

Habitat: Wet Areas;  Swamps, marshes, and other wet areas.

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Uses: The fibers from the dried plants make excellent cordage.

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 262    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 294    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 136   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Notes: A fairly common milkweed of wet areas.

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: incarnata: flesh


Photographs: 123 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Seed pods maturing in late summer.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Seeds being released from the seed pods. They are the typical milkweed seeds which are easily blown long distances by the wind.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Empty seed pods in late fall.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

This photos shows the fibers that have been stripped off the dead plants in late fall or winter.

These fibers make excellent cordage. For more information on how to make cordage from milkweed fibers, see the Wildwood Survival website, cordage section.


Range map for Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)