Tall Green Milkweed

Asclepias hirtella, also known as tall green milkweed or prairie milkweed, is a native flowering plant species of North America. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family, which also includes milkweeds, dogbanes, and oleanders.

Description:

Tall green milkweed is a perennial plant that typically grows 3-4 feet tall. It has narrow, alternate leaves that are 3-6 inches long and up to ½ inch wide. The leaves are rough to the touch due to short, dense hairs. The stems are also rough and green to purplish in color. The plants are unbranched but may produce multiple stems.

Flowers:

The flowers of tall green milkweed are greenish-white with purple tips. They are clustered in round umbels that are 2-3 inches across. Each umbel contains 30-100 flowers. The individual flowers are about ⅓ inch long and have five petals that pull back from the five-parted crown. The horns are absent, and the flower stalks average 1 inch long and are densely hairy.

Bloom time:

Tall green milkweed blooms in mid-summer, typically from June to August.

Range:

Tall green milkweed is native to North America, where it is found from Ontario and Minnesota south to Kansas, Louisiana, and Georgia.

Pollinators:

Tall green milkweed is an important food source for many pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It is also a host plant for the monarch butterfly.

Ecological importance:

Tall green milkweed is an important part of the prairie ecosystem. It provides food and shelter for many pollinators and other insects. It also helps to control erosion and prevent the spread of invasive plants.

Conservation:

Tall green milkweed is a declining species due to habitat loss and pesticide use. It is important to protect and restore tall green milkweed populations to ensure the continued survival of this important species.

Asclepias hirtella, commonly known as tall green milkweed or prairie milkweed, is a native flowering plant species of North America. Its native range encompasses a substantial portion of the central and eastern United States. Here's a detailed breakdown of the states where Asclepias hirtella is native:

Midwestern States:

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

Southern States:
Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas

Northeastern States:
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermon

Central States:
Colorado
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming