common name:
Common milkweed
|
scientific name:
Asclepias
syriaca
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) domed umbels of white-pinkish flowers paired with its large, bright green upright leaves. Image taken in the Backyard Farmer Garden.
Image Creadit:
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a keystone native perennial, especially relating to pollinator and prairie restoration in Nebraska. Thriving in full sun and light soils, it is frequently found along roadsides, in fields, pastures, and open prairies throughout the state. The plant’s domed umbels of pinkish-purple flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, while its large, upright leaves provide critical forage for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
Charecteristics
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones:
3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs:
Full Sun
Water Needs:
Dry
Space Requirements:
12 inches – 3 feet
Height Requirements:
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements:
1–2 feet
Maintenance Requirements:
Low
Bloom Color:
Pink
Bloom Time:
Summer
Leaf Color:
Green
Wildlife Attraction:
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance:
Drought
Uses:
Naturalize
Varieties