Kurt Stüber [1] / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Milkweed
Asclepias
Overview
The only larval food plant for monarch butterflies, making milkweed conservation a matter of species survival. Common milkweed also has a rich ethnobotanical history — young shoots, flower buds, and immature pods are all edible after proper cooking to remove the bitter latex. The silky floss from seed pods was used to fill life jackets during WWII and is being explored as a modern sustainable insulation material.
A genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans and many other species, primarily due to the presence of cardenolides. However, as with many such plants, some species feed upon milkweed leaves or the nectar from their flowers. A noteworthy feeder on milkweeds is the monarch butterfly, which uses and requires certain milkweeds as host plants for its larvae.
The Asclepias genus contains over 200 species distributed broadly across Africa, North America, and South America. It previously belonged to the family Asclepiadaceae, which is now classified as the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae.
Mentioned in The Mycelial Grimoire
Posts on the Grimoire that reference Milkweed.
Growing Conditions
Habitat & Range
- Habitat
- Meadows & Open Areas
- Native Range
- Native to Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut and 37 more US states; native to British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick... in Canada; also native to Alberta, Angola, Argentina Northeast and 80 more regions; introduced in Hawaii, Indiana
- Native Region
- Canada, Continental US, NAV, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
- Cultivation Region
- Temperate regions
Botanical data via projectGAIA.
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Sowing & Propagation
Propagation Methods
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow outdoors for natural cold stratification; essential monarch host plant |
| Cold (1-2) | Bloom | Jun — Aug | Blooms midsummer; do NOT deadhead — monarch caterpillars need the foliage |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow; seeds need 30+ days cold stratification to germinate |
| Cool (3-4) | Bloom | Jun — Aug | Peak bloom midsummer; leave seed pods for self-sowing and winter interest |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow; or cold-stratify seed in fridge 30 days before spring sowing |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Apr — May | Transplant nursery plants in spring; deep taproot — choose location carefully |
| Moderate (5-7) | Bloom | May — Aug | Blooms late spring through summer; critical pollinator plant |
| Moderate (5-7) | Divide | Mar — Apr | Divide clumps carefully in early spring; disturb taproot as little as possible |
| Warm (8-9) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) or native A. tuberosa |
| Warm (8-9) | Bloom | Apr — Sep | Long bloom season; attracts monarchs, bees, and hummingbirds |
| Hot (10+) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in spring; tropical milkweed is evergreen — cut back in fall to prevent OE parasite |
| Hot (10+) | Bloom | Mar — Oct | Year-round bloom for tropical species; cut back once annually |
Uses
Culinary
- Young shoots cooked like asparagus (after blanching to remove bitterness)
- Immature flower buds and young pods cooked as vegetables
- Must be properly prepared — do not eat raw
Medicinal
- Latex traditionally used for wart removal (topical)
- Root tincture historically used for respiratory conditions by Native Americans
Other Uses
- Critical monarch butterfly conservation plant
- Seed floss explored as sustainable fiber and insulation
- Native meadow restoration species
Safety Notes
Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides[274]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[274]. This species is said to be poisonous to livestock[228].
