Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a species of flowering plant. It is in the genus Asclepias, the milkweeds. This species is native to southern Canada and of much of the conterminous eastern U.S., east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding the drier parts of the prairies. It grows in sandy soils and other kinds of soils in sunny areas.
Family:
Apocynaceae (Dogbane)
Height:
2 to 5 feet
Leaves:
Large, light green, and oval with smooth edges, 4-6 inches long
Flower:
Pink flowers consisting of 5 downward and 5 upward pointed petals in a large round cluster from leaf axil.
Bloom time:
June-August
Nicknames:
Silkweed, Milkplant
Habitat:
Shorelines, woodland edges, fields
Wildlife Benefits:
Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants.
Can I plant this in my garden?
Common milkweed tolerates many conditions, including sun to part shade, wet and dry sites. While the plant can be grown, it often introduces itself to home gardens via seeds that are wind-dispersed.
References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/common-milkweed
Family | Apocynaceae |
---|---|
Habit | Forb |
Origin | native |
Life cycle | perennial |
Flower | pink |
Bloom time | (6) June, (7) July, (8) August |
*sites | Gervais Mill Pond, Lake Phalen, Snail Lake |