Compare plants.

Tropical milkweed and Swamp milkweed: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Tropical milkweed Asclepias curassavica	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Mexico and tropical America	Central and eastern North AmericaSee state guides
Sunlight
Full sun	Full sun
Soil moisture
Average moisture; well-drained soil	Moist to wet / Average moisture
Mature height
2–3 ft	3–5 ft
Mature spread
1–2 ft	2–3 ft
USDA hardiness zones
8–11	3–9
Season of interest
Summer–fall	Summer
Garden & wildlife value
Provides nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and moths; also feeds monarch caterpillars.	A locally native milkweed gives monarch caterpillars food and visiting butterflies a summer nectar stop.
Growing notes
Often grown as an annual in colder climates. Year-round growth in warm areas can disrupt monarch seasonal patterns.	Best in consistently moist soil; a good candidate for a sunny rain garden.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.