Description
This swamp milkweed cultivar is an erect, clump-forming plant which typically grows 3-4′ tall on branching stems and is basically a compact, white-flowered form of the pink/mauve-flowered Missouri native species. Small, mildly fragrant, white flowers (1/4" wide), each with five reflexed petals and an elevated central crown, appear in tight clusters (umbels) at the stem ends in summer. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 3-6" long. Stems exude a toxic milky sap when cut. Flowers are followed by attractive seed pods (to 4" long) which split open when ripe releasing silky-haired seeds easily carried by the wind. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies as a nectar source. In addition, this plant serves as a food source for the larval stage of Monarch butterflies.
