Flowers · perennial

Milkweed from seed

Asclepias spp. · also searched as butterfly weed, asclepias

Germination temperature: 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C)
Sowing depth: cover or leave exposed
Days to germinate: 14 to 28 days
Light: Either; light is not critical
Before sowing: Stratify 3 to 4 weeks at about 40°F in a damp medium (fridge) for best germination.
Start indoors: 7 to 9 weeks before planting out
Sow outdoors: 6 to 2 weeks before the last frost

Your dates from your last frost Seed not coming up?

Sowing

Mix seed with damp sand or paper towel in a bag, keep in the fridge for at least 3 weeks (Iowa State), then sow warm at 70 to 75°F. Or sow outdoors in autumn and let winter do the chilling.

Care and transplanting

Do not move the taproot once established. Plants can take a couple of years to flower.

Problems

Aphids are common and harmless to the plant. No germination usually means skipped chilling.

Saving seed

Collect pods when they split and dry; remove seed from the fluff.