It is 4.8 to 6.8 PH.
Physical Characteristics. Asclepias syriaca is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 3. It is in flower from Jul to August, and the seeds ripen from Aug to October.  Plant Milkweed for Monarchs Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed. Monarch caterpillars need milkweed plants (Asclepias sp.) to grow and develop, and monarch butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs. With shifting land management practices, we have lost much milkweed from the landscape. Please plant milkweed to support monarch populations, and their incredible migration! Showy Milkweed (Asclepias Speciosa) - Showy Milkweed is a perennial plant that can be easily established by sowing Milkweed seeds. It has up to 36 inch stems and large gray-green oval leaves that can be 5 inches in length. Asclepias Speciosa flowers form on top of the stems and are rounded clusters of rosy-pink flowers.  Wildlife: Swamp milkweed is a favored food of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larva (shown in the picture above). Swamp milkweed is also an important food source for the queen butterfly (Danaus glippus) larva. Various other butterflies and hummingbirds consume nectar from the flowers. Swamp milkweed is also an important food. source for the queen butterfly (. Danaus glippus. ) larva. Various other butterflies and hummingbirds consume. nectar from the flowers. The Chippewa and Iroquois have used an. infusion of the roots externally to strengthen the body and. heal babies’ navels. Many animals within the park rely on specific types of plants as their sole food source. Monarch butterflies, for example, only lay their eggs on milkweed, and only eat milkweed while in their caterpillar phase. Milkweed requires a moderately acidic soil to grow, surviving in soil pH levels from 4.8 to 6.8. As with most other plants, it cannot tolerate pH levels below 4. Overly-acidic soil prevents roots from being able to absorb water and nutrients crucial for survival. Utilized by Monarch butterflies for egg-laying and used as a nectar source by many other butterfly species (and also by hummingbirds). Plant in full sun and treat as an annual. Save the seeds this fall and start them yourself next year (this milkweed is easy to grow from seed). Some northeasterners assume common milkweed to be the only milkweed species which exists. Actually, over 100 species of Asclepias grow in the USA, with over 200 different species growing worldwide. Common milkweed is not the only Asclepias species which can be utilized as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. Milkweed is essential for the existence of Monarch butterflies. A Monarch butterfly is pictured at the top of this page. Adult Monarchs (and many other butterfly species) love nectar-rich milkweed as a food source, but there is a more important reason for the Monarch's close attachment to milkweed. Some northeasterners assume common milkweed to be the only milkweed species which exists. Actually, over 100 species of Asclepias grow in the USA, with over 200 different species growing worldwide. Common milkweed is not the only Asclepias species which can be utilized as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. It is the larval food plant of Queen and Monarch butterflies. Hummingbirds and bees are also attracted. Butterfly Weed is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing from 10 inches to 3 ft tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early fall. This plant favors dry, sand or gravel soil, but has also been reported on stream margins. It requires full sun.  Swamp Milkweed, white flowering (Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet') Clusters of small white flowers on plants which grow 32-40 high. Usually blooms late June through July. 'Ice Ballet' Swamp Milkweed is a choice nectar plant for numerous butterfly species (including the red admiral shown here). Some northeasterners assume common milkweed to be the only milkweed species which exists. Actually, over 100 species of Asclepias grow in the USA, with over 200 different species growing worldwide. Common milkweed is not the only Asclepias species which can be utilized as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. Milkweed is a great plant for the garden and provides habitat for many creatures. In addition to being a host plant to the monarch butterfly, milkweed offers many other benefits: 1  Milkweed flowers produce nectar that all butterfly species benefit from. For Holly’s writings on Milkweed check out the post “Throw Me in That Milkweed Patch”. http://wildblessings.com/2011/07/28/throw-me-in-that-milkweed-patch/. Below is a compilation of info on Milkweed that I have yet to compile into my format for dispensing on Wild Blessings.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Asclepias+syriaca http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/documents/MilkweedInfoSheet.pdf http://www.outsidepride.com/seed/flower-seed/milkweed/milkweed-showy.html http://www.plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_asin.pdf http://dlia.org/soil-ph http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73/ http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm http://wildblessings.com/plants/milkweed/
what ph is for milkweed