# honey-vine climbing milkweed (*Cynanchum laeve*) Honey-vine climbing milkweed is a fun plant that grows tall and loves to climb! It has pretty flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making it a great friend to nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![honey-vine climbing milkweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cynanchum_laeve_NRCS-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cynanchum_laeve_NRCS-1.jpg) ## Appearance The honey-vine climbing milkweed is a twining vine with shiny, heart-shaped leaves that are typically opposite along its stem. It produces small, star-shaped flowers that are greenish-white to pale yellow, often appearing in clusters. Later, smooth, pointed seed pods develop. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Cynanchum ## Interesting facts - Each smooth seed pod can release hundreds of fluffy, wind-blown seeds! - It's called 'milkweed,' but isn't in the true milkweed genus! - Its strong stems can quickly climb over other plants and fences! - The unique star-shaped flowers have tiny traps for pollen! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Champion:** Honey-vine climbing milkweed can twine its flexible stems around other plants or structures to reach sunlight high above. - **Milky Shield:** Honey-vine climbing milkweed has a milky, sticky sap that deters many herbivores from eating its leaves and stems. - **Wind Rider Seeds:** Honey-vine climbing milkweed has seeds equipped with silky tufts, allowing them to fly far on the wind to new places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Larvae sometimes feed on leaves. - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar. - **Eats:** [Large milkweed bug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-milkweed-bug) (*Oncopeltus fasciatus*) — Feeds on seeds and sap of pods. ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify honey-vine climbing 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 honey-vine climbing milkweed? 300-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on honey-vine climbing milkweed? 0.3-0.6 cm ### When does honey-vine climbing milkweed bloom? Summer-fall ### Is honey-vine climbing milkweed edible? No ### Is honey-vine climbing milkweed toxic? Mild ### What is honey-vine climbing milkweed's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is honey-vine climbing milkweed pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Hedgesville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hedgesville-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Irvington Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/irvington-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Techwood Homes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/techwood-homes) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-of-the-ohio-national-wildlife-conservation-area) — Indiana, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see honey-vine climbing milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/honey-vine-climbing-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*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Honey-vine Climbing Milkweed Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honey-vine-climbing-milkweed)