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Asclepias rubra

Phonetic Spelling
as-KLEE-pee-as ROO-brah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Red Milkweed is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower found in the sandhills, swampy areas, and wet pine savannas from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Teas. It is found in the sandhills of North Carolina. The flowers are pink to purple and occur in clusters from June to July and attract bees and butterflies. Monarch butterfly host plant.

Plant in full sun to partial shade in consistently moist to wet acidic soil. Use this plant in bog gardens or other moist to wet sites as along a stream or pond or in rain gardens. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant disease problems. Most common milkweed pests (aphids, milkweed beetles, Monarch larvae, and milkweed tussock moth larvae) are not problematic, but both large and small milkweed bugs can be very damaging to seed pods.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#pink flowers#native perennial#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#swamps#herbaceous perennial#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#pink flowers#native perennial#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#swamps#herbaceous perennial#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Asclepias
    Species:
    rubra
    Family:
    Apocynaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , PA , SC , TX , VA
    Wildlife Value:
    Monarch butterfly host plant. Flowers attract bees.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    3-5 inch long smooth seed pods that split when mature having many seeds with silky hairs to disperse on the wind. Displays from July to September
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small pink to lavender tubular flowers in terminal and axillary clusters from June to July
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Green leaves are opposite, ovate or lanceolate, sessile or nearly so with heart-shaped or rounded base and pointed tip. 2-6 inches long. Hairs along the margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Stem oozes a milky sap when broken
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pond
    Riparian
    Small Space
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Cardiac glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes