Ice Ballet Milkweed
Ice Ballet Milkweed
A White-Flowered Native Milkweed for Moist Soil
Ice Ballet Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet') is a refined white-flowering form of our native swamp milkweed, topping tall, upright stems with clusters of softly fragrant, pure-white blooms in summer. Unlike dry-loving butterfly weed, this milkweed thrives in moist soil and rain gardens, where it serves as both a monarch host plant and a nectar magnet for butterflies and bees. An elegant, wildlife-friendly choice for damp, sunny spots in Minnetonka, Lakeville, and Blaine.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' |
| Mature Size | 3–4 ft tall, 2–3 ft wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Fragrant pure white |
| Soil | Moist to wet; thrives in rain gardens |
Landscape Uses
Use Ice Ballet in rain gardens, pond and stream edges, moist borders, and pollinator and native plantings. It pairs beautifully with Joe Pye weed, blue flag iris, and other moisture-loving natives, and is a key monarch waystation plant.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early summer. Swamp milkweed emerges late in spring, so be patient and mark its spot.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Choose a spot that stays reliably moist.
Watering
First Year: Keep the soil consistently moist, watering 2–3 times per week.
After Year One: Water regularly; unlike butterfly weed, swamp milkweed prefers steady moisture and tolerates wet soil.
Drip Irrigation: A soaker hose or drip line helps maintain the moisture this milkweed loves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from Butterfly Weed?
Swamp milkweed thrives in moist to wet soil, while butterfly weed needs dry, well-drained soil. Both are monarch hosts.
Is it a monarch host plant?
Yes, it feeds monarch caterpillars and provides nectar for adult butterflies and bees.
Is it a Minnesota native?
Yes, native swamp milkweed, hardy to Zone 3.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer avoid milkweeds.
You May Also Like
Pair Ice Ballet with pink swamp milkweed, Joe Pye weed, and other moisture-loving natives for a monarch-friendly rain garden.
How Many Ice Ballet Milkweed Do I Need?
For a rain garden or moist border, space plants about 24 inches apart and plant in drifts of 3 to 5 for a full, monarch-friendly stand.
| Bed Run | Plants Needed (24 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 5 |
| 20 ft | 10 |
| 30 ft | 15 |
| 40 ft | 20 |
Ice Ballet Milkweed Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Breaks dormancy late — mark its spot — then sends up tall, upright stems.
- Summer: Clusters of softly fragrant, pure-white blooms host monarch caterpillars and draw butterflies and bees.
- Fall: Decorative seed pods split to release silky seeds as the foliage yellows.
- Winter: Fully dormant; leave the stems standing for structure and overwintering insects.
At a Glance
✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Rain-Garden / Wet-Soil
Plant It With
- Cinderella Milkweed — the rosy-pink swamp milkweed that pairs perfectly with this white form.
- Gateway Joe Pye Weed — a tall native for the same moist, sunny conditions.
- Hot Lips Turtlehead — a native wet-meadow bloomer that carries color into fall.
- Gay Butterflies Milkweed — a drier-soil milkweed to extend the monarch buffet nearby.
Is Ice Ballet Milkweed Right for Your Yard?
It thrives in moist to wet soil — rain gardens, pond edges, and low spots — in full sun to part shade. Not a fit if your soil is dry and sandy (unlike butterfly weed, it wants steady moisture), or if you can't wait out its late spring emergence.