Large seed pods open up and self seed readily, spreading this native wildflower’s seeds each season. So planting your milkweed seed in fall not only mimics how milkweed is planted in nature, but it eliminates the need for cold stratification as the cold winter months will do that for you. Getting ready to plant.

How to collect

1. Split the pod at the seam and peel open. Use your fingers to pull the seeds and the silk out.
2. Do not collect open pods with numerous milkweed bugs on the seeds or pods.
3. It is always best to collect only a portion of the seeds in a particular location and leave some for natural regeneration.

Step 1: Harvest seed pod from milkweed plant Pick pods as they turn brown, dry and mature. The brown dried pod in the upper left is just beginning to split open — perfect to harvest the seed.

Start off small, say a couple shoots, or an ounce, see how your stomach feels, and take it from there. A wee milkweed bud, wait to harvest them until they are bigger. Eventually they turn purple, loosen up, and become flowers which make a nice garnish.

Clinical signs from ingestion include cardiovascular signs (e.g., abnormal heart rhythm and rate), electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., a life-threatening high potassium level), gastrointestinal signs (e.g., nausea, drooling, vomiting, etc.), or central nervous system signs (e.g., dilated pupils, tremors, seizures).

If you suspect that your pet has eaten milkweed, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan.

1. Cardiac arrhythmias.
2. Collapse.
3. Decreased heart rate.
4. Depression.
5. Diarrhea.
6. Drooling.
7. Hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in blood)
8. Increased heart rate.

Shop Milkweed Plants This showy native wildflower is easy to grow, cold hardy, and does well in poor, dry soi…

Most milkweeds require full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours a day). Because they self-seed readily, locate your plants in a part of the garden where you can better control their rampant spread, such as at the back of the border or in a corner.

The National Wildlife Foundation recommends planting milkweed that is native to your area, particularly for large-scale planting (see its guide to milkweed regions for more information), but common milkweed, butterfly weed, and swamp milkweed will do well in most gardens.

For gardens, we recommend that you plant about 20-30 milkweed plants per 100 square feet. Milkweed plants should be spaced 1 foot apart, placed in clusters of 3-4 milkweeds.

home (with seed purchased from our shop!). As a grower, I must admit that milkweed is one of the easiest plants that we grow…by far. Its predictable and uniform germination makes it an excellent candidate for first-time seed sowers. The first, CRITICAL step is to wait until we get warmer temperatures.

Running out of milkweed leaves this time of year is NORMAL. This is natures way of insuring fresh leaves for the next generation. This is the most important generation as it will migrate to Mexico. You WILL have some caterpillars that will turn to chrysalis.

Most milkweed species evolved in open areas where they were exposed to full sunlight and they will do best if they are planted in the sunniest areas of your gardens. A few species, such as A. purpurascens, appear to require partial shade. The timing of the collection of milkweed pods or seeds is critical.