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Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata

Other plants called Whorled Milkweed:

Phonetic Spelling
as-KLEE-pee-as ver-ti-si-LAY-tuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Whorled Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower in the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family found in the sandhills, thin woodlands and barren outcroppings in all areas of NC and most of the US east of the Rockies. The thin linear leaves are arranged in whorls along the stem and the white flowers appear in small clusters May to September. They are a favorite of bees and butterflies and the plant is a host to the monarch butterfly larvae.

Whorled Milkweed is easy to grow in average, moist to dry, well-drained soils and flowers best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. It is resistant to deer, drought and dry soils. Use this plant in naturalized areas, pollinator gardens or meadows. It will spread by seed and rhizomes. Seed pods can be removed before self-seeding occurs and are sometimes used in dry flower arrangements. 

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#drought tolerant#white flowers#native perennial#NC native#Monarch butterfly#long bloom time#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#butterfly friendly#FACU Piedmont Mountains#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#native perennial#NC native#Monarch butterfly#long bloom time#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#butterfly friendly#FACU Piedmont Mountains#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Asclepias
    Species:
    verticillata
    Family:
    Apocynaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, Canada
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts pollinators. Host plant to the monarch butterfly.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    3-4 inches long and .5 inch wide smooth, narrow seed pods split open when mature releasing numerous seeds with long tufts of white hair that are dispersed by the wind from September to October
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny tubular 5-petaled flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils and stem tips from May to September. Flowers are white to greenish-white
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    2-3 inch long, narrow, sessile, linear leaves arranged in whorls of 3-6 per node along the stem. Margins rolled downward (revolute). Undersides with whitish-green with short hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Unbranched green stems with vertical lines of short pubescence ooze a milky sap if broken.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry 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
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice
    Stems