Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

This familiar plant has large (2-4 inch) dome-like clusters of typical milkweed flowers of varying pink-purple hue, with the reflexed petals a darker shade than the upturned hoods. These clusters are often half-suspended or drooping on their stems coming from leaf axils.  Leaves are long, broad, untoothed, and smooth on top, and somewhat pointed at the apex, with the undersides covered with a fine fuzz. Leaves are opposite and directly attached to the stem or on a very short stalk.

The seed pods are distinctive in that unlike those of other milkweeds they are rough (see below).

3-5 feet, sun - partial sun.

Summer (June-August).

  The distinctive seed pods of Common Milkweed, with their many protruding spikes.  These are being visited by Milkweed Bugs, which suck the sap of seeds and other parts of the plant. They are able to sequester the poisonous compounds in milkweed sap. Their bright orange coloration is probably a signal to potential predators that they are poisonous or at least distasteful.

29 September 2020.

Common Milkweed, 21 June 2020.

Note the somewhat pointed ends of leaves.

16 June 2020.