Cinderella Swamp Milkweed

Cinderella is a tall, upright swamp milkweed with rounded clusters of fragrant rose-pink flowers and narrow green leaves. It suits sunny borders, rain gardens, and pollinator plantings where the soil stays moist; allow room for its branching stems and the seedpods that follow flowering. ## Flowers and wildlife The cultivar bears rose-pink blooms in midsummer, continuing into early fall in suitable conditions. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the flowers, and the leaves are a larval food source for monarch butterflies. Proven Winners lists mature height at 3–5 feet and spread at 1–3 feet; size varies with site and growing season. ## Siting Give it full sun for sturdy growth. Swamp milkweed naturally grows near streams, ponds, and wetlands, but adapts to moist clay or loam garden soil. Water during establishment and extended dry spells; avoid treating it as a desert milkweed. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asclepias-incarnata/) notes that the species adapts to moist clay or loam. ## Maintenance This is an easy-care perennial once established, according to the [Proven Winners profile](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/asclepias/cinderella-swamp-milkweed-asclepias-incarnata). Leave stems through the season if you want the pods to mature, or remove them before they split if you prefer to limit windblown seed. Take care when handling damaged stems because milkweed sap can irritate or be harmful if eaten.