Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A near-continental native with flat flower heads that feed tiny beneficial insects, tough as a weed.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
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- Plant guide
- Showy Milkweed
Star-shaped pink
Perennial wildflower
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
The West's monarch milkweed — bolder, fuzzier, and more drought-hardy than its eastern cousins.
the Great Plainsthe Mountain Westthe Great Basinthe desert SouthwestCaliforniathe Pacific Northwest
Growing Showy Milkweed
The keystone monarch host from the Plains to the Pacific. Spreads by rhizome in good soil; stays tighter where it's dry. It’s drought-tolerant, fragrant, and easy to grow.
Where it grows
Showy Milkweed is native to the Great Plains. In the wild you’ll find it across Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Kansas · Minnesota · Missouri and 12 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows Showy Milkweed on 22 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy Showy Milkweed
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share Showy Milkweed’s range and conditions.
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Fiery red-and-gold wheels that bloom nonstop all summer on hot, dry, sandy ground.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A monarch host plant and the brightest orange in the native palette, thriving in lean, dry soil.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
The classic monarch nursery, with honey-scented summer flowers that perfume an entire meadow.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul