Narrowleaf Milkweed
Regular price$4.00
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Description
General Info:
- Scientific name: Asclepias fascicularis
- Common names: Narrowleaf milkweed, Mexican whorled milkweed
- Type: Perennial herb
- Height: 3-4 feet
- Habitat: Dry to open woodlands, prairies, roadsides
Key Features:
- Flowers: Clusters of fragrant, lavender-pink flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. They mature to a deeper purple color over time.
- Leaves: Narrow and pointed, often arranged in whorls of 3-5 around the stem.
- Pods: Smooth, spindle-shaped pods that burst open in fall to release fluffy seeds.
- Ecological significance: Vital host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and attracts many other pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.
Interesting facts:
- The milky sap of the plant can be irritating to the skin, so wear gloves when handling it.
- Despite its toxicity to humans, the monarch butterfly caterpillars have developed a special adaptation to feed on milkweed and even store the toxins in their bodies as a defense mechanism against predators.
- Narrowleaf milkweed is relatively easy to grow in a variety of soil conditions, making it a great choice for butterfly gardens and wildflower meadows.
Western States:
California
Oregon
Washington
Idaho
Montana
Wyoming
Colorado
Utah
Nevada
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas (western portion)
Other States:
Kansas (extreme western portion)
Oklahoma (panhandle)
South Dakota (Black Hills)
North Dakota (western portion)