Asclepias 'Cinderella'

Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella': Sweet-Scented Monarch Magnet

With its fragrant rose-pink blooms and stately upright form, Asclepias 'Cinderella' brings both beauty and purpose to sunny, moisture-loving gardens. Large, vanilla-scented flower clusters appear in mid to late summer, attracting monarchs, bees, and countless other pollinators. The tall, tidy stems are topped with soft umbels that sway gently in the breeze, while the narrow foliage offers food for monarch caterpillars. A refined and garden-worthy milkweed, 'Cinderella' blends ornamental value with ecological importance.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 90–120 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm, forming an upright clump
• Flower Colour: Rose-pink with pale centres
• Flowering Period: Mid to late summer
• Foliage: Narrow, lance-shaped leaves; medium green and upright
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist to wet, well-drained soil; tolerates clay

Uses and Benefits: Asclepias 'Cinderella' thrives in rain gardens, wet meadows, and sunny borders with consistent moisture. It adds vertical interest and fragrance, while supporting monarch butterflies at all stages of life. This cultivar is more refined than wild types—well-branched, less prone to flopping, and well-behaved in mixed perennial plantings. Excellent for naturalistic designs, pollinator gardens, and habitat restoration projects alike.

Companion Plants: Combine with the bold structure and dusky blooms of Eupatorium 'Gateway', the glowing blades of Carex elata 'Bowles Golden', and the vivid red spires of Lobelia cardinalis for a moist-border palette that hums with wildlife and layered summer colour.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun with moist, fertile soil. Tolerates wet conditions and clay but prefers good drainage. Cut back stems in late autumn or leave standing for winter habitat. Slow to emerge in spring, so mark location to avoid accidental disturbance. No division required; long-lived once established.

History: A selected cultivar of the native swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, 'Cinderella' was introduced for its sweeter scent, more compact branching, and improved garden presence. Native to eastern North America, this species has become a key player in pollinator conservation and native plant landscapes.

Final Thoughts: Both ornamental and essential, Asclepias 'Cinderella' brings elegance and ecological value to the summer garden—an irresistible choice for gardeners and butterflies alike.