Asclepias incarnata
This variety of milkweed is beloved for its bright clusters of vanilla-scented, rose-pink flowers, which bloom continuously from mid-summer to fall. The flowers sit atop upright-branching, stiff stems and are a fantastic source of nectar for many butterflies and all pollinators and beneficial insects. When cut, the stems and leaves exude a milky sap. Eventually, flowers give way to prominent seed pods that split when ripe to release silky-tailed seeds that look great in dried flower arrangements. True to its name, this plant thrives in medium to wet soils but is also tolerant of average, well-drained soils.