Milkweed in District of Columbia
The District’s milkweed lives in Rock Creek Park, the Anacostia wetlands and a growing network of pollinator gardens on federal land. Common, swamp and butterfly milkweed all persist, and the city’s pollinator habitat commitments have added considerable planted acreage.
The best milkweed to plant in District of Columbia
Native to the state, garden-worthy and useful to monarchs. Start here if you are planting rather than identifying.
All milkweed species in District of Columbia
| Species | Height | Flower | Bloom | Soil | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata |
3 ft–5 ft | pink, rose, white | June to September | Wet / Average | |
| Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa |
1 ft–3 ft | orange, yellow, red | May to September | Dry / Average | |
| Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens |
2 ft–4 ft | purple, magenta | May to July | Average / Dry | |
| Poke Milkweed Asclepias exaltata |
3 ft–6 ft | white, green | June to July | Average | |
| Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca |
3 ft–6 ft | pink, mauve, white | June to August | Dry / Average | |
| Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata |
1 ft–2.5 ft | white, green | June to September | Dry / Average | |
| Clasping Milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis |
1.5 ft–3 ft | pink, green, mauve | May to July | Dry | |
| Fourleaf Milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia |
1 ft–2 ft | pink, white | May to June | Dry / Average | |
| White Milkweed Asclepias variegata |
1.5 ft–3.5 ft | white | May to July | Dry / Average |
Planting milkweed in District of Columbia
Sow seed outdoors in late October to early December. Winter then supplies the cold-moist stratification most milkweed seed needs, and germination happens naturally as the soil warms. If you have missed that window, chill seed in the refrigerator for 30 days and sow after your last frost. The full method is here.
District of Columbia spans USDA zones 7a–8a, so check the zone range on each species page before committing. Match the species to your site rather than the other way round: dry, sunny and poor suits butterfly weed and the whorled species; a damp spot suits swamp milkweed; shade suits very few milkweeds at all.
Plant at least ten stems in one group rather than scattering them, because female monarchs find dense patches far more readily. Add late-season nectar such as goldenrod and asters so the fall migratory generation has fuel as well as host plants. How to lay out a monarch garden.
Where to buy milkweed in District of Columbia
Start with Maryland Native Plant Society. State native plant societies run the plant sales worth going to: locally grown, untreated stock, at a few dollars a plant, sold by people who can tell you where to put it.
Elsewhere in the northeast
Independent seed producer supplying restoration-scale native seed by the pound.
Small independent mail-order nursery for eastern natives.
Maine non-profit selling wild-type native seed and running sowing workshops.
Independent grower supplying Mid-Atlantic restoration work.
Independent Pennsylvania native plant and tree nursery.
Ships to you
One of the widest milkweed seed and bare-root ranges anywhere, with germination codes listed for every species.
Long-established independent nursery specializing in Midwestern natives.
Family-run native seed producer for the eastern and central states.
Family-run Texas seed house focused on regional ecotypes.
Independent nursery growing Missouri-provenance natives.
These favor independent nurseries and non-profits over chain garden centers, which mostly stock unlabeled tropical milkweed and often cannot tell you whether it has been treated with neonicotinoids. Search the full directory by ZIP code.
Milkweed in District of Columbia: common questions
What milkweed is native to District of Columbia?
9 milkweed species are recorded in District of Columbia, including Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). The full list is on this page.
What is the best milkweed to plant in District of Columbia?
Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Purple Milkweed are the best combination of native, available and garden-worthy for District of Columbia. Swamp Milkweed is the easiest to start with.
When should I plant milkweed seed in District of Columbia?
Sow outdoors in late October to early December, so winter provides the cold stratification the seed needs. If you have missed that window, stratify seed in the refrigerator for 30 days and sow in spring after the last frost.
Does milkweed grow wild in District of Columbia?
Yes. 9 species occur in District of Columbia, typically on roadsides, field margins, prairie remnants and along watercourses. The District’s milkweed lives in Rock Creek Park, the Anacostia wetlands and a growing network of pollinator gardens on federal land.
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Milkweed USA. (2026). Milkweed in District of Columbia. Retrieved DATE, from https://milkweedusa.com/states/district-of-columbia/
"Milkweed in District of Columbia." Milkweed USA, 2026, https://milkweedusa.com/states/district-of-columbia/. Accessed DATE.
Milkweed USA. "Milkweed in District of Columbia." Last modified 2026-08-01. Accessed DATE. https://milkweedusa.com/states/district-of-columbia/.
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