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Showy milkweed · Asclepias speciosa

Why are my Showy milkweed leaf tips turning brown?

It is less common for this hardy native to have brown tips, but it usually happens when the plant is struggling with moisture levels or salt buildup. Check your soil moisture first to see if the ground is bone dry or consistently soggy.

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Check these first

  1. Feel the top 2 inches of soil to see if it is dry.
  2. Check for white mineral deposits on the pot or soil surface.
  3. Inspect the leaves for signs of spider mites.

Likely causes

  1. Underwatering

    Possible

    How to tell: The soil feels like dust and the leaves feel brittle or crispy to the touch.

    What to do: Give the plant a deep soak until water runs out the drainage holes or saturates the surrounding garden soil. Aim to water every 7 to 14 days depending on how hot the weather is.

  2. Mineral Buildup

    Possible

    How to tell: You see a white crust on the soil surface or the rim of the pot, and the tips brown despite regular watering.

    What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of fresh water to wash away excess salts. If the plant is in a container, ensure it has good drainage so the salts can exit the pot.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your showy milkweed

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves. A little tip burn at the end of a long, hot summer is perfectly normal.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a consistent watering schedule and mulch around the base to keep the soil moisture steady.

Showy milkweed: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your showy milkweed and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips off?
You can snip them off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does fertilizer cause brown tips?
Yes, using too much fertilizer can burn the roots and show up as brown tips. Stick to a light application of compost in the spring.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Showy milkweed

Back to the Showy milkweed guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.