Milkweed seeds

Life Cycle

So, the milkweed's life all starts off as a small brownish seed. Then as the seed starts to grow into a seeding. The seedling eventually turns into a smaller version of the milkweed plant, which usually takes place in the spring. With spring comes the flower buds along with different parts of the plant's stems. This all depends on the species of milkweed with different blooms.

With the different species of milkweed comes them growing in different settings as well. Like for instance the swamp milkweed tends to sprout better in swampier areas of moister soils, hence the name.

Once the milkweed loses the blooms around early fall the pods will start to form. With the pods being smaller or bigger depending on the type of milkweed. The pods are filled with seeds with release after they start to dry out. This is how they germinate by spreading from examples birds and or people. Below is an example of how we can help germinate milkweed seeds.

How to Germinate Milkweed

1. Fill your containers with moist potting soil. Leave a 1/2″ (12 mm) gap to the top of the container.

2. Plant your seed.

3. Add more soil.

4. Mist the seeds with your spray bottle.

5. Plant more seed.

6. Mist the seeds.

7. Place seeds in a location the receives morning sun and afternoon shade.

8. Germination should occur a couple of weeks after temperatures reach 65-70F (20C) during the day.

Pros/Cons of Gathering Seeds

Pros Cons

Milkweed is easy to grow. It attracts bees when grown.

They are water wise. Be aware of Milkweed’s seed pods and remove them before It attracts butterflies. they open otherwise they’ll spread seeds all over your garden.

Milkweed is deer resistant. It attracts bees.

Easy to take care of. The roots and leaves to be toxic to humans and pets.

Can spread easily. They can be pretty invasive if you aren't careful.

The Three Types of Milkweeds

Common Milkweed pods start popping up in September along with the Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Weed. Butterfly Weed is orange and not only blooms, but it also produces pods. This is a food source for the caterpillars and the butterflies. The Milkweed is a pretty bloom and a good place for butterflies in the garden.

Swamp Milkweed is bush like with purple buds and tends to like more swampy areas hence the name. The pods of this milkweed usually start to pop around September. You can open the pods are spread the seeds inside around, which produces more in the future.

The Common Milkweed is what you usually see around Michigan everywhere. It can pop up in any yard. The pods that come with the common milkweed usually are very big and spread faster by the pods breaking out.