Whorled Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata |
| Introduction | |
Whorled Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata
is another member of the milkweed family. It is much shorter and smaller than most milkweeds.
The main stem and the leaves are very thin. The blooms are also smaller and are a light greenish color.
Whorled Milkweed is a Host Plant for Monarch ButterfliesWhorled Milkweed, like other milkweeds, are host plants for Monarch butterflies. The poisons in the milkweed plants do not bother them - instead they make them taste bad to potential predators. Whorled Milkweed Pictures
Here's a close up of some flowers:
Where to buy Whorled MilkweedTypical nurseries don't sell Whorled Milkweed. You will most likely have to find a native plant nursery. Growing TipsThis milkweed doesn't always come up each year in the same place, it tends to move a little over time. I honestly can't remember if I started mine from seed or if I bought the plants, but I'm guessing seed. One or two plants are so little you will probably want quite a few - so seeds make a lot more sense.
The Asclepiadaceae FamilyThis family has about 250 genera and roughly 2000 species. Mostly tropical and subtropical. Some species are herbs, others are vines and shrubs. Most have a milky sap containing poisons (see above).
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