Purple Milkweed is Back!
You don’t see a lot if Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) in gardens, not even in native plant gardens. For several years I doted on a small clump of it in the Back Garden Raised Bed. Feeling that the plant should be more widely grown, in 2014 I offered free seeds from my own plants to anyone who wanted them.
I was going to do the same in 2015, but that year the Purple Milkweed didn’t produce any seed pods. Then in 2016, the plant seemed to just disappear. Assuming it had simply faded away, I mourned its loss.
So imagine my delight this year when I saw a Purple Milkweed stem topped with a cluster of flower buds, which opened just the other day. There are two other stems without flowers nearby.
I do wonder how this happened – don’t think these are self-sown plants, as it takes three years for A. purpurascens seedlings to flower.
In any case, Purple Milkweed leaves look a lot like Common Milkweed (A. syriaca), but A. purpurascens is much shorter, just 2-3 feet. The flower clusters have a richer color, and are also held upright, while common milkweed flowers sort of droop. Purple Milkweed doesn’t spread aggressively, and seems to prefer part shade to full sun. The Common Milkweed is much more fragrant, though.
Purple Milkweed is not an easy plant to find. I’ve never seen it at a garden center, and few online retailers carry it. I ordered my original plant from Shooting Star Nursery in Kentucky, but they no longer do mail order. Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota sometimes carries seeds, but no plants. Various people have told me the seeds are not easy to germinate.
Above is one of the stems without flowers. Keeping my fingers crossed for flowers next year. I’m also keeping my fingers crossed for seed pods from this year’s one flower cluster. I’ll be happy to offer free seeds again if there are any seeds to give away.
I’d like to pamper my Purple Milkweed to give it a boost, but I’m not really sure how to do that. I think for now I’ll just give it some extra water now and then.
On a related front, I’m pleased to see the revival of another favorite plant out in the front garden. This time it’s the Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) in the Driveway Border. This plant had dwindled away to almost nothing. To reverse the trend, I moved in some new volunteer Anise Hyssop from other beds. I also made more room for them by dividing some of the competing plants. More on Anise Hyssop in future posts.
It’s always nice when a favorite plant you had written off makes a surprise return.
gardeninacity 
Pleased you’re gifted with such nice surprises! Yes, it’s gratifying when something that you’ve given up on and mourn, returns.
Great looking plant. Hope you get some seeds and that it continues to come back every year.
I just found one shoot of a peony that died about three years ago. I’m leaving it where it is and hoping for the best. Love the milkweed.
It is so good to have a loved plant back in the garden, the purple Milkweed seems to be on a decline if so few places are selling the seeds. Also love the Anise Hyssop…probably wouldn’t like our really hot weather in summer I’m guessing.
The Anise Hyssop might tolerate your weather – especially with a little shade.
The purple milkweed is just lovely! Not as rare as your purple milkweed and more easily replaced, I was still a bit sad that I lost some lupines this year – the only patch in my garden.
Always sad to lose plants we enjoy.
Very fortunate, especially as it is a favourite plant. I do hope it produces some seed for you. I have been fortunate too, in that three plants (2 buddleia and a Gaura) that I thought had frozen completely in winter have bounced back… I’m not sure if they will flower this year but at least they are not dead!
I think I have the same plant growing here in the Berlin area: Agastache foeniculum I planted it last autumn and it flowers for the first time. Eager to see, if it comes back next year, too
I hope it comes back for you. It can be short lived, but it self-sows readily.
Fingers crossed for seeds! It’s a gorgeous plant.
Hope you get some seed to increase your stock, a lovely flower.
This year a Yucca filamentosa decided to flower after almosr 20 yrs, so never give up on a plant!
Wow, it really wanted to keep you waiting!
It IS exciting to have a come back in your garden. This gives me courage that my milkweed might emerge some year. I didn’t know it took such a long time for them to bloom. Worth the wait.
Keep hope alive.
So happy making. I have let tropical milkweed self sow in my butterfly garden, and it is so peaceful to see the butterflies lazing on them in the sun. That purple milkweed is really lovely. Congrats. 🙂
Thanks!
I haven’t see that one before your post. Such a pretty purple!
Just checking – did my comment on your blog go into the spam folder? That’s been happening a lot.
Congratulations. It’s a beauty, as is the Agastache!
You sent me some purple milkweed seeds in 2014, but perhaps I didn’t sow them correctly (in three different gardens!) for they came to naught. The next year I got a couple of plants from Shooting Star. They shriveled and vanish. Then, last year, a tentative shoot appeared but disappeared. This spring, two shoots which grew sbout 8 inches, then gone again. I have a wire cage around the spot and keep it weeded and clear in hope that next year they will prevail. I can look at yours and hope!
I remember sending you those seeds. I hope your plants take hold and thrive.
This is very interesting. Makes me wonder what the stunted-looking milkweed that has come up in my backyard for two summers now is. It has never flowered. But it keeps coming back so I guess I just sit and wait it out and maybe something will happen!
Is someone nearby spraying herbicides? Just curious.
Not to my knowledge. I just think this is another species or something. Waiting to see what happens with it.
Milkweeds, especially swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata,) disappear and reappear in the wild as well. It can be frustrating for a plant nut.
What are you implying?
Welcome back, purple milkweed! I was not able to get the seeds to germinate after your last give-away, but I would like to try again, now that the blueberry bed is turning into a milkweed bed. I had a ‘Red Husker’ mysteriously reappear, far from its original spot. Wish the Canada thistle and Queen Anne’s lace would disappear.
The chances that a plant will disappear is in inverse proportion to the intensity with which you want it to go away.
If I have any seeds to give, I will definitely send you some.
I tried Purple Milkweed one year without success. I think the slugs did it in. It is beautiful when it blooms! I’m glad it’s coming back for you! Anise Hyssop is one of my favorites, too–for so many reasons!
Anise Hyssop is a real star in my book.
I’d love some purple milkweed seeds if you get any! Love your blog, by the way. Just recently started reading.
Thank you! I will post an announcement if I end up with any seeds to give away.
Hello! How is your purple milkweed doing these days? Would love some seeds. This plant seems to be less available these days than it ever was (sniff).