Milkweed
ExplorePlants
Milkweed
Asclepias
Milkweed is a special plant that butterflies love! It has pink flowers and pods filled with silky seeds that float in the wind.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Milkweed is a tall plant with sturdy stems and large, oval leaves. Its clusters of small, star-shaped flowers are typically pink or purple, but can also be white. It's unique for its milky white sap that oozes when stems are broken.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceaeGenusAsclepias
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single milkweed plant can produce hundreds of seeds, each ready to fly on the wind!
Ancient people crafted strong ropes and fabrics from milkweed's tough stem fibers!
During WWII, milkweed's fluffy seed fibers were used as buoyant stuffing for life vests!
Some clever insects can eat milkweed, absorb its toxins, and use them for their own defense!
Special abilities
Ability
Sticky Defense
Milkweed has a milky sap that contains toxins and becomes sticky, helping it defend against hungry herbivores.
Ability
Gliding Seeds
Milkweed seeds have silky 'parachutes' that allow them to glide on the wind, spreading far and wide.
Ability
Monarch Nursery
Milkweed produces special chemicals, making it the only plant Monarch butterfly caterpillars can eat to survive.
Ability
Sweet Nectar Lure
Its abundant flowers produce sweet nectar that attracts many insects, ensuring it gets pollinated.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-200 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
depends on
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Honey bees visit flowers for nectar and pollen.
eats
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Large Milkweed Bug
Oncopeltus fasciatus
Feeds on seeds, stems, and sap of the plant.
eats
Milkweed Aphid
Aphis asclepiadis
Sucks sap from stems and undersides of leaves.
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer sometimes browse on young milkweed shoots.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
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.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
Butterfly WeedSilkweed
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Enjoy milkweed from a distance and avoid touching or eating any part of the plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Milkweed?
60-200 cm
How wide does Milkweed spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on Milkweed?
1-2 cm
When does Milkweed bloom?
Summer
Is Milkweed edible?
No
Is Milkweed toxic?
Moderate
What is Milkweed's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Milkweed pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
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