How is blood flower used in the landscape?

Blood flower is a great addition to perennial borders, cottage gardens, and meadow gardens. For the best visual impact, its slender and airy growth style complements well when combined with other tall plants that have a relaxed growth pattern. Consider mixing it with other milkweeds, coneflowers, asters, Liatris, and ornamental grasses. While this plant has traditionally been popular in butterfly gardens, some experts now recommend using different native milkweed species instead.

Will deer eat blood flower?

No, blood flowers are typically avoided by deer.

Should I prune back my blood flower plants?

Yes, blood flowers can disrupt the natural migratory route of monarch butterflies, it is advisable to prevent them from seeding and spreading, particularly in regions without severe winters. Trim the plants at ground level during autumn to prevent seeding. In locations with mild winters, prune the blood flowers every few weeks to avoid year-round flowering.

Can I grow my plants in containers?

Yes, blood flowers are pretty easy to grow in a container. Use a fairly large, deep container to provide room for the tap root. Use regular commercial potting mix and blend with vermiculite or extra perlite to improve drainage. Plants will need watered regularly in containers.

Are blood flower plants a good attractant for the monarch butterfly?

Bloodflower is a host for the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, which can weaken monarch butterfly populations. Also, blood flowers may harm monarch butterflies in zones where the plant is perennial, because monarchs continue to feed on blood flower into winter, disturbing their migration.

What are some good companion plants for butterfly weed?

Perennial such as crocosmia, anthemis, kniphofia and agapanthus all go well with common milkweed.

What are some good companion plants for butterfly weed?

Perennial such as gayfeather, monarda, lavender, catmint and rudbeckia all work very well with butterfly weed.

Can I encourage more blooms on my butterfly weed plants?

Butterfly weed should bloom freely once mature (typically 3 years). If your plants are mature and you are still not blooming well, there could be a couple of factors at play. Make sure to water regularly until new growth starts (leaves and stems not just blooms) then you can decrease your watering frequency. Also, butterfly weed should NOT be fertilized, this can actually discourage blooming. If your plant is not receiving enough sunlight this can also hinder blooming, consider moving to a new location.

Do I need to prune my butterfly weed plants?

Butterfly weed does not need much pruning throughout the growing season, it can be cut back to the ground in late fall when leaves begin to yellow and stems turn brown. Do not mulch that can cause rot.

Will butterfly weed attract other pollinators besides butterflies?

Yes, bees and hummingbirds also enjoy the butterfly weed plant.

Can I use them as cut flowers?

Yes, these make an excellent quality cut flower for both floral arrangements and dried arrangements.

Why not plant milkweed on the coast?

If you live in a coastal region or near a place where monarch butterflies overwinter, it is recommended to cultivate nectar plants like blazing star and bidens to aid the monarchs during their migration to and from the overwintering spot. Adult monarch butterflies rely on milkweed for reproduction, and the presence of milkweed misleads them into thinking it is a suitable location for breeding, thus disturbing their natural migration pattern.

Is swamp milkweed invasive?

When grown in its natural habitat in the eastern U.S. and Canada, swamp milkweed is not considered invasive. However, it does tend to spread, so if this is a worry, consider planting it in a container or a spacious planter.

Should you deadhead swamp milkweed?

Removing spent flowers is not necessary but can be done for. neater appearance and it can prolong the bloom.

Why isn’t my swamp milkweed blooming?

If your swamp milkweed is not blooming, it might be due to the plant's young age. Milkweed may not produce flowers in its initial year as it focuses on root development. Additionally, an abundance of nitrogen in the soil, like runoff from a fertilized lawn, can hinder blooming. Also, plants experiencing drought, heat stress or not enough sunlight will also fail to blossom.

Can I grow my plants in containers?

Yes, swamp milkweed is pretty easy to grow in a container. Use a container at least 14 inches in diameter with good drainage holes. Terra cotta works great due to its heavier weight. Use regular commercial potting mix and blend with vermiculite or extra perlite to improve drainage. Plants will need watered regularly in containers. Re-pot when roots start to grow out of drainage holes.

Is swamp milkweed invasive?

When grown in its natural habitat in the eastern U.S. and Canada, swamp milkweed is not considered invasive. However, it does tend to spread, so if this is a worry, consider planting it in a container or a spacious planter.

Should you deadhead swamp milkweed?

Removing spent flowers is not necessary but can be done for. neater appearance and it can prolong the bloom.

Why isn’t my swamp milkweed blooming?

If your swamp milkweed is not blooming, it might be due to the plant's young age. Milkweed may not produce flowers in its initial year as it focuses on root development. Additionally, an abundance of nitrogen in the soil, like runoff from a fertilized lawn, can hinder blooming. Also, plants experiencing drought, heat stress or not enough sunlight will also fail to blossom.

Can I grow my plants in containers?

Yes, swamp milkweed is pretty easy to grow in a container. Use a container at least 14 inches in diameter with good drainage holes. Terra cotta works great due to its heavier weight. Use regular commercial potting mix and blend with vermiculite or extra perlite to improve drainage. Plants will need watered regularly in containers. Re-pot when roots start to grow out of drainage holes.

What are some good companion plants for butterfly weed?

Perennial such as gayfeather, monarda, lavender, catmint and rudbeckia all work very well with butterfly weed.

Can I encourage more blooms on my butterfly weed plants?

Butterfly weed should bloom freely once mature (typically 3 years). If your plants are mature and you are still not blooming well, there could be a couple of factors at play. Make sure to water regularly until new growth starts (leaves and stems not just blooms) then you can decrease your watering frequency. Also, butterfly weed should NOT be fertilized, this can actually discourage blooming. If your plant is not receiving enough sunlight this can also hinder blooming, consider moving to a new location.

Do I need to prune my butterfly weed plants?

Butterfly weed does not need much pruning throughout the growing season, it can be cut back to the ground in late fall when leaves begin to yellow and stems turn brown. Do not mulch that can cause rot.

Will butterfly weed attract other pollinators besides butterflies?

Yes, bees and hummingbirds also enjoy the butterfly weed plant.

Can I use them as cut flowers?

Yes, these make an excellent quality cut flower for both floral arrangements and dried arrangements.

Why not plant milkweed on the coast?

If you live in a coastal region or near a place where monarch butterflies overwinter, it is recommended to cultivate nectar plants like blazing star and bidens to aid the monarchs during their migration to and from the overwintering spot. Adult monarch butterflies rely on milkweed for reproduction, and the presence of milkweed misleads them into thinking it is a suitable location for breeding, thus disturbing their natural migration pattern.

Is swamp milkweed invasive?

When grown in its natural habitat in the eastern U.S. and Canada, swamp milkweed is not considered invasive. However, it does tend to spread, so if this is a worry, consider planting it in a container or a spacious planter.

Should you deadhead swamp milkweed?

Removing spent flowers is not necessary but can be done for. neater appearance and it can prolong the bloom.

Why isn’t my swamp milkweed blooming?

If your swamp milkweed is not blooming, it might be due to the plant's young age. Milkweed may not produce flowers in its initial year as it focuses on root development. Additionally, an abundance of nitrogen in the soil, like runoff from a fertilized lawn, can hinder blooming. Also, plants experiencing drought, heat stress or not enough sunlight will also fail to blossom.

Can I grow my plants in containers?

Yes, swamp milkweed is pretty easy to grow in a container. Use a container at least 14 inches in diameter with good drainage holes. Terra cotta works great due to its heavier weight. Use regular commercial potting mix and blend with vermiculite or extra perlite to improve drainage. Plants will need watered regularly in containers. Re-pot when roots start to grow out of drainage holes.