Swamp Milkweed

Large clusters of pinkish-purple flowers at the top of tall, branching stems. During the past 20 years, the population of monarch butterflies has plummeted nearly 90% in North America. One of the biggest factors in this decline is the scarcity of milkweed. Milkweed is the only host plant for monarch caterpillars, and without milkweed, monarchs cannot successfully reproduce. Hence, the decline of the species.

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Strange that we did not yet have this essential plant, but better late than never :)
Do you know the reason for the decline of the plant? Pesticides? Agriculture? Posted 7 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I think the decline is mainly due to herbicides and the cultivation of GMO herbicide-resistant plants. Posted 7 years ago

The Swamp milkweed

''Asclepias incarnata'', the swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, rose milkflower, swamp silkweed, or white Indian hemp, is a herbaceous perennial plant species native to North America. It grows in damp to wet soils and also is cultivated as a garden plant for its flowers, which attract butterflies and other pollinators with nectar.

Info 6 0

Similar species: Gentianales

Species identified by Christine Young