Asclepias rubra Linnaeus. Common name: Purple Savanna Milkweed, "Red Milkweed". Phenology: Apr-Sep; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Pocosin ecotones, wet pine savannas, seepage bogs in longleaf pine sandhills, seepage swamps. Distribution: Se. NY (Long Island), se. PA, and NJ south to wc. GA and w. Panhandle FL, west to e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: A. laurifolia is alleged to differ in sessile, cordate-clasping leaf bases (vs. petioled and rounded), and other characters (see Small 1933); it may warrant recognition and needs additional study.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl5, FNA14, G, GW2, K4, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tx, Va, WH3, Woodson (1954); > Asclepias laurifolia Michx. — S; > Asclepias rubra L. — S; > Asclepias rubra L. var. laurifolia (Michx.) Harper; > Asclepias rubra L. var. rubra; Asclepias rubra L. Basionym: Asclepias rubra L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Asclepias rubra - FNA14
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Asclepias rubra? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of pocosin ecotones, wet pine savannas, sandhill seeps and seepage swamps.
Stems: Stem solitary, unbranched, with 3-5 leaf nodes, smooth or with hair in lines between nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile or nearly so, lance-shaped and round or weakly heart-shaped at the base, 3 1/2-5 in. long, margins wavy, sparsely hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in rounded terminal and upper axillary umbels, about 1.5 in. wide; flowers dull red to pinkish-purple, 1/2-3/4 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and a lighter-colored central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
Fruits: Fruit an erect, narrowly spindle-shaped follicle containing tufted seeds.
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-3 ft.
plant sale text: Red milkweed has showy flowers ranging in color from lavender to pink to red. Found in marshy areas and pine barrens in the coastal plains of the southeast, this milkweed is an excellent addition to a rain garden as it tolerates wet feet. Red milkweed will also do well in an average garden setting as long as it is given a little extra care during droughty periods. Red milkweed is a host to monarch butterfly larvae. You’ll delight in watching the yellow, white and black striped monarch caterpillars feed on the leaves before they pupate into beautiful butterflies.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of pocosin ecotones, wet pine savannas, sandhill seeps and seepage swamps.
stems: Stem solitary, unbranched, with 3-5 leaf nodes, smooth or with hair in lines between nodes; leaks milky sap when bruised.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile or nearly so, lance-shaped and round or weakly heart-shaped at the base, 3 1/2-5 in. long, margins wavy, sparsely hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in rounded terminal and upper axillary umbels, about 1.5 in. wide; flowers dull red to pinkish-purple, 1/2-3/4 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and a lighter-colored central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding a complex structure of fused anthers and style.
fruits: Fruit an erect, narrowly spindle-shaped follicle containing tufted seeds.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern United States
0 unsaved edits on this page.