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spreading dogbane

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Spreading dogbane is a lovely plant with pretty flowers that attract butterflies. It grows in sunny places and can spread out wide, making it a great addition to gardens.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The spreading dogbane has slender, reddish stems and oval leaves. Its small, bell-shaped flowers are typically pinkish-white, often with darker stripes inside. It usually grows in bushy clumps.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceaeGenusApocynum
spreading dogbane
Photo: Emily S. KloostermanCC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeornamental trait badgesummer blooming trait badge
spreading dogbane

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

8

Interesting facts

It's a cousin to milkweed, but without the famous monarch butterfly connection!

Its scientific name means 'away dog,' a nod to its poisonous history!

Its strong fibers were once used by Native Americans to weave twine and fishing nets!

Some tiny caterpillars can eat its toxic leaves without getting sick!

Special abilities

Ability

Sticky Trap Nectar

Spreading dogbane has tiny sticky pads inside its flowers that can briefly trap small insects, ensuring good pollination.

Ability

Poisonous Protection

This plant creates a milky, toxic sap to deter hungry animals, making it unappetizing to most herbivores.

Ability

Underground Spreader

Spreading dogbane can grow deep underground roots and rhizomes, allowing it to quickly form large, dense patches.

Measurements & details

Height
30-100 cm
Spread
30-90 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to mid-summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
High
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar

Pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

gathers nectar and pollen from blooms

Pollinates

Syrphid Fly

Ceriana abbreviata

mimics a wasp and visits flowers

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Don't eat any part of the plant, as it can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify spreading dogbane?

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 spreading dogbane?

30-100 cm

How wide does spreading dogbane spread?

30-90 cm

How big are the flowers on spreading dogbane?

0.5-1 cm

When does spreading dogbane bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

Is spreading dogbane edible?

No

Is spreading dogbane toxic?

High

What is spreading dogbane's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

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Recent Snaps

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