Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Asclepias syriaca, commonly known as common milkweed, is a native North American plant known for its ecological importance, especially to pollinators like monarch butterflies.

🌸 Key Features

Family: Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae)

Height: 3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m), sometimes taller

Leaves: Broad, opposite, and oval with a smooth margin

Flowers: Pink to purplish, fragrant, blooming in spherical clusters (umbels)

Fruit: Long, spiny seed pods that split open to release silky-haired seeds

Latex: Milky sap that is mildly toxic and a deterrent to herbivores

🐝 Ecological Importance

Host plant for monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae

Nectar source for bees, wasps, beetles, and other butterflies

Seeds dispersed by wind thanks to silky tufts (coma)

🌱 Growing and Care

Hardiness Zones: 3–9 (USDA)

Light: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained; tolerates dry to medium conditions

Spread: Can spread aggressively by rhizomes; suitable for wild gardens or meadows

🧪 Uses

Traditional uses: Native American groups used parts of the plant medicinally and for food (young shoots, buds, and immature pods – only after proper preparation to reduce toxicity).

Modern uses: Fiber from stems has been used as cordage; floss used as insulation or stuffing.