Asclepias viridiflora Rafinesque. Common name: Glade Milkweed, Green Milkweed. Phenology: (Apr-) May-Aug; Aug-Sep. Habitat: Open woodlands, woodland edges, barrens, glades, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks, and also in disturbed areas. Distribution: CT west to s. ON, MB, ND, and MT, south to NC, SC, GA, Panhandle FL, AL, LA, TX, n. Mexico (CHH, COA, DGO, NLE), NM, and AZ.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl5, FNA14, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NY, Ok, Pa, RAB, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Woodson (1954); = Acerates viridiflora (Raf.) Pursh ex Eaton – G, S, Tat; > Asclepias viridiflora Raf. var. lanceolata (Ives) Torr. – F; > Asclepias viridiflora Raf. var. linearis (A.Gray) Fernald – F; > Asclepias viridiflora Raf. var. viridiflora – F
Links to other floras: = Asclepias viridiflora - FNA14
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending perennial of open woodlands, woodland edges, barrens and glades, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks.
Stems: Stems solitary and unbranched, smooth or slightly hairy; leaks milky sap when bruised.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, nearly round to lance-shaped and very large (to 4 in. long and 1¾ in. wide), leathery-thick, with a prominent white midvein and slightly rough and wavy margins, thinly hairy beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in several dense (15-30 flowers), rounded and nodding umbels on short stalks from upper leaf axils; pale green (becoming yellowish-green to purplish with age), about 1/2 in. long, with 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and 5 erect "hoods" that are shorter than the central column of fused anthers and style.
Fruits: Fruit a cylindric-linear, slightly curved, dangling follicle (in pairs), containing tawny-tufted seeds.
Comments:
Height: to 2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text: Green milkweed may not be the most striking specimen in your garden but it may soon be one of your favorites. This plant has green cylindrical flowers that are best appreciated up close. Like other milkweed flowers, their architecture creates little traps for the feet of pollinators who land on them. As they pull themselves out of the flowers, they are covered with pollen which they carry to other flowers they visit. Drought tolerant.
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending perennial of open woodlands, woodland edges, barrens and glades, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks.
stems: Stems solitary and unbranched, smooth or slightly hairy; leaks milky sap when bruised.
leaves: Leaves opposite, nearly round to lance-shaped and very large (to 4 in. long and 1¾ in. wide), leathery-thick, with a prominent white midvein and slightly rough and wavy margins, thinly hairy beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in several dense (15-30 flowers), rounded and nodding umbels on short stalks from upper leaf axils; pale green (becoming yellowish-green to purplish with age), about 1/2 in. long, with 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and 5 erect "hoods" that are shorter than the central column of fused anthers and style.
fruits: Fruit a cylindric-linear, slightly curved, dangling follicle (in pairs), containing tawny-tufted seeds.
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