Dogbane Family
ExplorePlants
Dogbane Family
Apocynaceae
The Dogbane family includes many plants that can be found in fields and gardens. Some of them have pretty flowers, and they can be important for butterflies and other insects.
Habitat: Fields and gardens
Appearance
The Dogbane Family is known for its milky, often poisonous, sap and often features simple, opposite leaves. Its flowers typically have five petals, sometimes fused into a tube, and can range from small and inconspicuous to large and showy, often in shades of white, pink, or yellow.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceae
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Many plants in this family make a sticky, white "milk" when you break their stems.
Some members like Oleander are so poisonous even honey made from their nectar can be toxic!
The Madagascar Periwinkle from this family helps doctors fight childhood leukemia.
The beautiful Plumeria, used in leis, also belongs to the Dogbane Family!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollinator Puzzles
Dogbane Family flowers often have complex shapes and nectar guides to attract specific insect pollinators.
Ability
Floating Seeds
Dogbane Family can produce seeds with fluffy hairs that allow them to float far on the wind.
Ability
Sticky Pollen Packets
Dogbane Family often produces pollen in special waxy packets for efficient transfer by insects.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-200 cm
- Spread
- 20-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to late summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
larvae feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.
eats
Oleander Aphid
Aphis nerii
specialized to feed on toxic members.
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
collects nectar from many flowering species.
pollinates
Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa cardui
visits many flowers for nectar.
eats
Two-spotted Spider Mite
Tetranychus urticae
a common pest on many cultivated plants.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Fiber
This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Always wash your hands after touching plants and never eat any part of a plant without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Dogbane Family?
30-200 cm
How wide does Dogbane Family spread?
20-100 cm
How big are the flowers on Dogbane Family?
1-5 cm
When does Dogbane Family bloom?
Spring to late summer
Is Dogbane Family edible?
No
Is Dogbane Family toxic?
High
What is Dogbane Family's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Dogbane Family pollinated?
Insect
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