Asclepias 'Ice Ballet'

Asclepias 'Ice Ballet': Swamp Milkweed in Crisp White

Pure white, vanilla-scented clusters on upright stems, as elegant as a dancer in the first act. 'Ice Ballet' loves wet clay and hosts monarchs like a pro. PIROUETTE IN THE PUDDLES.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'
• Common Name: Swamp Milkweed
• Height: 90–120 cm (3–4 ft)
• Spread: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Flowers: Pure white, lightly vanilla-scented clusters at the stem tips, followed by slim seed pods
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall (July to September)
• Foliage: Narrow, lance-shaped, deep green leaves on an upright clump
• Features: Monarch host plant, tolerates clay and wet soil, good cut flower

Where to Plant: Use it in a sunny border, a rain garden, a low spot that stays damp or along the edge of a pond. White flowers cool down a hot colour scheme and glow in the evening, so it's a nice choice near a patio.

Companion Plants: Salvia Sallyrosa™ April Night adds violet spikes at the front from late spring to early fall. Sedum 'Autumn Fire' brings pink flowers from August to October, carrying colour past the white milkweed. Alcea 'Purple Rain' towers behind at about 180 cm with purple flowers through the summer. All three want full sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun. It prefers consistently moist soil but grows well in average garden soil too, including clay. Water regularly during its first season and through hot, dry spells. Swamp milkweed comes up late in spring, so mark the spot. Deadhead if you'd like to tidy it, or leave the pods for seeds. The milky sap is toxic and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when cutting. Cut stems back in late fall or early spring. It has a deep root, so it's best left in one place rather than divided.

History: 'Ice Ballet' is a white-flowered seed selection of swamp milkweed, introduced by the German seed house Jelitto Perennial Seed in 1992. The species, Asclepias incarnata, is native from Quebec to Manitoba and south to the Gulf states, and its name means flesh-coloured, after the usual pink flowers.

Final Thoughts: Plant it in the soggy spot where nothing else behaves. The butterflies will take a bow. THE PRIMA DONNA OF THE RAIN GARDEN.