Purple Milkweed
The purple milkweed, also known as Asclepias purpurascens, is a beautiful and important native plant to North America. Here's what I found about it:
Description:
- Flowers: Deep rose-pink flowers that mature to a rich purple color, blooming in clusters in late spring and early summer.
- Leaves: Dark green, oppositely arranged, and slightly hairy.
- Height: Typically grows 2-3 feet tall.
- Habitat: Found in dry to moist open woods, prairies, and roadsides.
Ecological significance:
- Monarch butterfly: The purple milkweed is a vital food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
- Pollinators: The fragrant flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Conservation: This species is considered endangered in some states due to habitat loss. Planting purple milkweed in your garden is a great way to help conserve it.
Additional interesting facts:
- The sap of the plant is milky and can be irritating to the skin.
- The seed pods are a favorite food of goldfinches.
- Purple milkweed is relatively easy to grow in a variety of soil conditions.
The purple milkweed, or Asclepias purpurascens, is native to a pretty vast swathe of the USA! Here's a breakdown of where you can find it:
Eastern and Midwestern states:
Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Connecticut (CT)
Delaware (DE)
Georgia (GA)
Illinois (IL)
Indiana (IN)
Iowa (IA)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maine (ME)
Maryland (MD)
Massachusetts (MA) - Endangered
Michigan (MI)
Minnesota (MN)
Missouri (MO)
Mississippi (MS)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)
New York (NY)
North Carolina (NC)
Nebraska (NE)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode Island (RI)
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN) - Species of Special Concern
Texas (TX)
Virginia (VA)
Vermont (VT)
West Virginia (WV)
Wisconsin (WI) - Endangered
South-central states:
Central Texas, particularly in chalky soils
