# common milkweed (*Asclepias syriaca*) Common milkweed is a tall plant with big, green leaves and pretty pink flowers. It is a favorite for butterflies, especially monarchs, who love to lay their eggs on it! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 175 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![common milkweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Common_Milkweed_Asclepias_syriaca_Plant_2000px.jpg&width=800) Photo: Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Milkweed_Asclepias_syriaca_Plant_2000px.jpg) ## Appearance The common milkweed has sturdy green stems with large, broad oval leaves. Its dense clusters of small, fragrant flowers are typically pinkish-purple, setting them apart from other wildflowers. It stands tall and robust. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Asclepias ## Interesting facts - Its unique flowers can sometimes trap insect legs, requiring a tricky escape! - Milkweed was once used to stuff life vests during World War II! - Native Americans used milkweed for food, medicine, and strong fibers. - Some tiny spiders hide among milkweed flowers, ambushing unsuspecting insects! ## Special abilities - **Sap Shield:** Common milkweed has a milky sap that deters herbivores by being sticky and bitter, protecting its leaves. - **Wind Sailor Seeds:** Common milkweed produces seeds with silky parachutes that catch the wind, allowing them to travel far and wide. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Common milkweed produces abundant, nectar-rich flowers that attract a diverse array of insects, aiding pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves for growth. - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its sweet-smelling flowers. - **Eats:** [Oleander aphid](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander-aphid) (*Aphis nerii*) — Forms colonies, sucking sap from stems and leaves. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low While milkweed is fun to look at, don't eat it because it can make you feel sick. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common milkweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common milkweed? 100-200 cm ### How wide does common milkweed spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on common milkweed? 1-2 cm ### When does common milkweed bloom? Summer ### Is common milkweed edible? No ### Is common milkweed toxic? Mild ### What is common milkweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest [View all places to see common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-milkweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [lesser celandine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-celandine) (*Ficaria verna*) --- Source: [Common Milkweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed)