When is the best time to plant milkweed seeds?

Most native milkweeds need to undergo cold and moist conditions, known as stratification or vernalization, before they can germinate. The easiest method is to plant milkweed seeds outdoors in the fall. Although some seed predation will occur, the exposure to cold temperatures and moist conditions during winter will stimulate seed germination. It is also possible to plant in the spring, but you will need to artificially stratify the seeds in the refrigerator to enhance germination. Check out MJV’s page on Planting and Growing Milkweed and The Xerces Society’s Milkweed FAQ for more information on stratifying seeds and growing milkweed plants.