![]() ![]() The first thing people will see is a fairly sturdy stalk with leaves folded up - they look somewhat like stalks of asparagus. So, in this case, it would be a challenge to follow one plant from year to year. They are perennial, but the shoots don’t develop at exactly the same place as the previous year’s stems. Tips for Observing: Plants have a strong, extensive rhizome (underground stem) system. Theodore Webster, USDA Agricultural Research Service,. Silky white hairs attached to each seed facilitate wind dispersal. Pale green and covered with bumps, the pods eventually turn brown and split open, releasing up to 200 flat, brown seeds. Flowers occur in round clusters (inflorescence) about two inches in diameter, and bloom from June through August.įruit: Milkweeds produce large seedpods (3 to 5 inches long) after flowering. D’Appollonio, UMaineįlowers: Individual flowers are small (0.4 to 0.7 inches), consisting of five petals pink to purple in color. The underside of the leaf is covered with fine hairs. Leaves are large and oval in shape (4 to 8 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide). Leaves: Pairs of leaves on short petioles (leaf stems) extend opposite each other from the single hairy stem. However, milkweed habitat is being lost throughout the US due to development, agricultural practices, and mowing of roadside stands, posing a threat to Monarch populations. Native to the US, you will find milkweed throughout all of the eastern and mid-western states. Many insects are attracted to milkweed flowers, making them an ideal landscaping plant for attracting pollinators. ![]() Leaf toxins accumulate in the Monarchs’ bodies, making them poisonous to their predators. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed leaves, and the larvae (caterpillars) feed on the leaves until they form their chrysalis. However, milkweed is an important food source for the Monarch caterpillar. Chemicals in this sap can be poisonous to animals. Milkweed gets its name from the milky sap contained in its leaves and stems. 3: 30.Ĭommon milkweed is a perennial, herbaceous plant that grows to heights of 2 to 6 feet on solitary stalks. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Common Milkweed Fact Sheet USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. ![]()
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