Description
Prairie Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii) is a showy wildflower known for its fragrant clusters of pink flowers and broad, smooth leaves. Growing straight up, its elegant appearance makes it an attractive milkweed for prairie gardens and larger native plantings. The flower clusters appear in early to mid-summer and attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.
Like other milkweeds, Prairie Milkweed is an important host plant for Monarch butterflies, providing essential food for their caterpillars. Its flowers also provide nectar for a variety of other pollinating insects. The plant grows best in full sun and medium to moist soils.
Prairie Milkweed spreads slowly by underground rhizomes and can form small colonies over time. It is well suited to prairie restorations, pollinator gardens, and other larger native plantings where it has room to establish.
Prairie Milkweed can be easily mistaken for Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), especially when the plants are not in flower. Prairie Milkweed is shorter and has smooth stems and broader, more upright leaves, while Common Milkweed has hairy stems and leaves. Prairie Milkweed also tends to have more compact, rounded flower clusters with fragrant pink flowers. Looking at the stem and leaf texture is an easy way to tell the two species apart.
Looking for multiple milkweed species? This species is included in our Monarch Milkweed Seed Collection, which includes five native milkweed seed packets at a savings compared with purchasing them individually.
