Part of milkweed  genus Asclepias (whose ❀ blossom is the ⚘❀ state wildflower of Illinois) in dogbane  family Apocynaceae.

Native to North America.

Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)

Asclepias hosts caterpillars of 13 species
of butterflies and moths, in some areas, including being the only host plant for eggs and larvae of the monarch butterfly  Danaus plexippus.
Poster of monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus lifecycle, larval
host plants, adult nectar plants, and growing info for these plants.  Adobe Acrobat Reader file Growing milkweeds for
monarch butterflies  Adobe Acrobat Reader file Milkweed—It's Not
Just for Monarchs Uses by butterflies,
planting info

Bloom dates (Michigan).  Adobe Acrobat Reader file (page 3) Bloom dates (NE Illinois).  Adobe Acrobat Reader file (Wild Ones members only) Bloom dates and planting info.  Adobe Acrobat Reader file (Wild Ones members only)

Learn more about common milkweed Asclepias syriaca

Discover Life Encyclopedia of Life Google Google images Michigan Flora Minnesota Wildflowers Missouri Botanical Garden Missouri Plants USDA PLANTS db USFS Wikipedia

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🏠︎ ⚘ ❀ flowers terrestrial ❧ herbaceous plants

milkweed  genus Asclepias and related genera