Panicle Hydrangea vs Showy Milkweed - TreeTime.ca

Panicle Hydrangea vs Showy Milkweed

Hydrangea paniculata

Asclepias speciosa

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Panicle Hydrangea
Showy Milkweed

Panicle Hydrangea is a large, broad-leaf, deciduous shrub that is prized for its ornamental appeal. It is easy to care for, long-lived, and cold-hardy.

Depending on the variety, its flowers change color throughout the blooming period. Make sure you water Panicle Hydrangeas regularly to achieve the most notable color change.

Showy Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower known for its fragrant clusters of pink to purple, star-shaped flowers. It is an essential plant for Monarch butterflies, acting as a critical host plant for caterpillars and a nectar source for adults. Blooming from early to mid-summer, these flowers also supply nectar to many other pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.

Ideal for butterfly conservation, pollinator gardens, and naturalization projects, Showy Milkweed thrives in a wide range of soils, including dry and rocky ground. While it spreads via underground rhizomes to form colonies, it is much less aggressive than Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

Note: All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, especially the milky sap. Do not ingest any part of the plant and prevent sap from contacting skin or eyes. Toxic to humans, pets, and livestock.

Panicle Hydrangea Quick Facts

Showy Milkweed Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, clump forming
Spreading: rhizomes - high, seeds - high
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: toxic to pets, livestock, and humans if ingested, can cause skin and eye irritation.
Flowers: white, strong scent, very showy
Flowers: purplish-pink clusters
Bloom time: early to mid summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, MB, YT
Other Names: white panicle hydrangea