Intro: Erect perennial of moist forests, forest margins and roadsides.

Stems: Stem light-green to purplish-green, unbranched, mostly smooth; leaks milky sap when bruised.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly oval to lance-oval, 3-8 in. long, thin-textured and smooth (midrib beneath may be hairy).

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on long, drooping stalks in terminal umbel and several upper axillary umbels; green and pink, ¼ in. wide and ½ in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed green or pale purple corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--which surrounds a complex structure of fused anthers and style.

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

Comments: The nectar of the flowers attracts many butterflies, and the plant hosts Monarch larvae.

Height: 2-6 ft.

plant sale text: Poke milkweed has terminal umbels of white flowers, sometimes tinged with a lavender or greenish tint. The flowers are produced in such profusion that overall this plant is quite showy when in bloom. The flowers of this southeastern native species are arranged in large, drooping umbels. The nectar of the flowers attracts many butterflies. This species is also a host plant for the larvae of the Monarch butterfly and the genus supports up to 12 lepidoptera species. Poke milkweed grows at the edges of woods and along roadsides.

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of moist forests, forest margins and roadsides.

stems: Stem light-green to purplish-green, unbranched, mostly smooth; leaks milky sap when bruised.

leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly oval to lance-oval, 3-8 in. long, thin-textured and smooth (midrib beneath may be hairy).

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on long, drooping stalks in terminal umbel and several upper axillary umbels; green and pink, ¼ in. wide and ½ in. long, consisting of 5 strongly reflexed green or pale purple corolla lobes and a central crown--composed of 5 2-parted appendages ("hood" and "horn")--which surrounds a complex structure of fused anthers and style.

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

comments: The nectar of the flowers attracts many butterflies, and the plant hosts Monarch larvae.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America