Intro: Erect to ascending perennial of woodland margins, roadsides and pastures.

Stems: Stems often several from a single woody taproot, mostly unbranched, sometimes tinged reddish-purple, rough with stiff hairs.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, to 4 in. long, hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in terminal and upper axillary compound umbels, orange or reddish-orange, about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding another complex structure of fused anthers and style.

Fruits: Fruit an erect, narrowly spindle-shaped follicle containing tufted seeds.

Comments: The sap of this milkweed is clear, not milky. A native over much of the eastern U.S., it is a popular garden plant. Nectar-rich flowers attract many pollinators.

Height: 1-3 ft.

plant sale text: Butterfly milkweed is a common roadside wildflower in our area, and like other members of Asclepias genus, is a host to monarch butterfly caterpillars. The distinctive linear leaves and bright orange flowers make butterfly milkweed a standout in summer. Its modest size provides a splash of color without overwhelming small spaces. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, this plants is a "must have" to support Monarch butterflies and up to 12 species of lepidoptera! 1985 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.

bloom table text:

description: Erect to ascending perennial of woodland margins, roadsides and pastures.

stems: Stems often several from a single woody taproot, mostly unbranched, sometimes tinged reddish-purple, rough with stiff hairs.

leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, to 4 in. long, hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in terminal and upper axillary compound umbels, orange or reddish-orange, about 1/2 in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--surrounding another complex structure of fused anthers and style.

fruits: Fruit an erect, narrowly spindle-shaped follicle containing tufted seeds.

comments: The sap of this milkweed is clear, not milky. A native over much of the eastern U.S., it is a popular garden plant. Nectar-rich flowers attract many pollinators.

cultural notes:

germination code: 2

native range: United States & eastern Canada