I am thrilled to death!!! After FOUR years of attempts to get Asclepias purpurascens (purple milkweed) started, I was unable to get anything to come back after winter let alone bloom. Today, on the North side of the house, almost covered by hostas, I found this surprise... purple milkweed survived the winter... And it was in bloom!!! FINALLY!!! Now we'll see if it can thrive.

Such a pretty color! Is that type scented?

The flowers were not around long but if they were scented they were not apparent or maybe drowned out by all the common milkweed around. No seeds were made so maybe next year...if it lives through the winter. They are notoriously poor seed makers. Hard to germinate. Hard to grow. May not overwinter. Doesn't produce seeds well. It's a wonder this plant survives even in the wild!

Well I guess that's its "Happy Place".

I hope yours makes it Urban
After 3 full seasons, I finally have some seeds starting on mine this year. I hope they are fertile!

Alas, it was not to be. It popped up a few weeks ago. Grew about 1.5-2 feet high and then croaked. So disappointed. I'll try again hopefully. So close...

Bummer!

Ugg that stinks Urban. Good luck with the next try. Once it gets going they are so nice.
I have a few started from seed this year that I will baby and hopefully get going. Dang, they are temperamental aren't they!

II don't think I've ever had a plant that has died and then come back as many times as my asclepias purpurascens. Just wanted to tell you to watch for it in case yours decides to come back. Mine did great for a few years then started struggling. It came up this spring then died back and returned. It's five or six inches tall now and has multiple sprouts. Last year it only grew to about two inches before disappearing as it did a couple times the year before, so I'm hoping it's a good sign that it got taller this year. I love this milkweed. The blooms are so pretty and the Monarchs love it, so I'm not about to toss it out.

I'm going to try to find more seeds and spilt them between winter sorting and flats in spring. I'll cross my fingers that the one plant will come back though.

I would love to have some too. Is it getting too dry?

Not sure. I was watering regularly when it tanked.

I'm curious if your purple milkweed has reappeared. I was very relieved to see mine returning this spring and I have a few more sprouts than last year. The tallest is only about three inches so far. I also have a few seedlings from some seeds I had collected in 2020. I'm hoping I can get at least a couple survivors from those but my track record isn't good on that one. They're kind of hard to keep alive. I do think they like some afternoon shade here.

Nothing yet but the milkweeds are just coming up and I have a lot. I'll reply here when I'm sure.