Asclepias tomentosa Elliott. Common name: Sandhill Milkweed, Velvetleaf Milkweed. Phenology: May-Aug (-Oct); Jun-Oct. Habitat: Longleaf pine sandhills, oak scrubs, drier pine flatwoods, coastal dunes. Distribution: Sc. NC south to s. FL, west to FL panhandle; disjunct in e. TX. The curious distribution is mapped and discussed by Sorrie (2016). The se. AL record (Kral 31980) has been corrected to A. obovata (B. Sorrie, pers. comm.; 2024).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl5, FNA14, K4, RAB, Tx, WH3, Woodson (1954); ? Asclepias aceratoides M.A.Curtis — S. Basionym: Asclepias tomentosa Elliott 1817
Links to other floras: = Asclepias tomentosa - FNA14
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Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Michelle Wong, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Asclepias tomentosa, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Chesterfield County, South Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending perennial of longleaf pine sandhills, turkey oak barrens and clearings.
Stems: Stems stiff, unbranched and velvety-hairy; leaks milky sap when bruised.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, lance-shaped to broadly elliptical, 2-3 1/2 in. long, with wavy margins, covered with velvety (short) hairs.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in 2-6 umbels from upper leaf axils, pale green to yellowish-green, 1 1/2-2 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading corolla lobes with pink-tinged upcurved tips 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:
Height: 7-19 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending perennial of longleaf pine sandhills, turkey oak barrens and clearings.
stems: Stems stiff, unbranched and velvety-hairy; leaks milky sap when bruised.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, lance-shaped to broadly elliptical, 2-3 1/2 in. long, with wavy margins, covered with velvety (short) hairs.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in 2-6 umbels from upper leaf axils, pale green to yellowish-green, 1 1/2-2 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading corolla lobes with pink-tinged upcurved tips 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.
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cultural notes:
germination code:
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