ExplorePlants

prairie milkweed

Asclepias sullivantii

Prairie milkweed is a tall plant with beautiful pink flowers. It grows in fields and is very important for butterflies, especially monarchs, who love to lay their eggs on it.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The prairie milkweed has smooth, shiny, lance-shaped leaves and dense, rounded clusters of rosy-pink to purple flowers. Its foliage appears clean and sleek, standing out amongst other prairie plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceaeGenusAsclepias
prairie milkweed
flowering trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgefragrant_flower trait badgemedicinal trait badge
prairie milkweed

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Break a stem, and watch out for milky white sap!

It can grow taller than many kids, reaching your chest!

Its name honors Joseph Sullivant, a plant-loving scientist!

The bumpy seed pods look just like tiny canoes!

Special abilities

Ability

Monarch's Diner

Prairie milkweed has special leaves that monarch caterpillars eat to grow big and strong.

Ability

Deep Drinker

This plant can reach deep underground with a long taproot to find water during dry spells.

Ability

Seed Glider

It produces seeds with silky parachutes that carry them far away on the wind.

Measurements & details

Height
60-120 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't eat any plants without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is prairie milkweed?

60-120 cm

How wide does prairie milkweed spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on prairie milkweed?

1-2 cm

When does prairie milkweed bloom?

Summer

Is prairie milkweed edible?

No

Is prairie milkweed toxic?

Moderate

What is prairie milkweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is prairie milkweed pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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