Asclepias perennis Walter. Common name: Smoothseed Milkweed, Swamp-forest Milkweed, Aquatic Milkweed. Phenology: (Apr-) Jun-Aug; Aug-Sep. Habitat: Cypress-gum swamps, bottomland hardwood forests, marshes. Distribution: Se. NC south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. TX, north in the interior to s. IN and s. IL.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl5, FNA14, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mo2, NcTx, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, WH3, Woodson (1954), (basionym)
Links to other floras: = Asclepias perennis - FNA14
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending perennial found in swamp forests.
Stems: Stems several from a woody crown, mostly unbranched, dark purplish-green, smooth below, with a line of hairs above between leaf nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, 2 1/2-5 1/2 in. long, waxy-white beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in umbels at stem top and from upper leaf axils, white (may be tinged pale lavender), about 1/4 in. long, consisting of 5 reflexed corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
Fruits: Fruit a follicle containing tufted seeds.
Comments: The tips of flower buds are pink.
Height: 1-2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending perennial found in swamp forests.
stems: Stems several from a woody crown, mostly unbranched, dark purplish-green, smooth below, with a line of hairs above between leaf nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, elliptic to lance-shaped, 2 1/2-5 1/2 in. long, waxy-white beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in umbels at stem top and from upper leaf axils, white (may be tinged pale lavender), about 1/4 in. long, consisting of 5 reflexed corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
fruits: Fruit a follicle containing tufted seeds.
comments: The tips of flower buds are pink.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: