You will receive a seed pack containing one ounce or a minimum of 2,800 Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) seeds. This North American native plant was used by indigenous people for removing warts and the treatment of respiratory diseases. Milkweed is known to contain cardiac glycoside, a substance that is harmful to birds and mammals. However, many insects can digest the cardiac glycosides, causing them to become inedible to predators, the most famous example of which being the monarch butterfly! Milkweed is essential to the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly and is the only plant on which it lays its eggs. Common milkweed's large clusters of sweet-smelling blooms provide food and safety for your local pollinators. Milkweeds thrive in moist, rich soil in full sun to part shade.
Milkweed seeds require 30 days of cold, moist stratification in order to germinate. This can be achieved by sowing the seeds outdoors in their desired location in autumn, or placing seeds in moist sand, peat, or even a damp paper towel and into the refrigerator over the winter. Sow stratified seeds 1/4" deep in an average potting mix (or outdoors) and keep moist. Seedlings should emerge in 3-4 weeks if held at a temperature of 65-75 F. Indoor-sown seedlings should receive ample light. Seedlings may be transplanted to their intended location once they have several true leaves; however, seedlings started indoors should be gradually hardened off for 10-14 days before planting outdoors. Seedlings should flower in their second year. Hardy in zones 3-9.
