Indian Hemp Apocynum androsaemifolium
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Indian Hemp:
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-POS-ih-num and-row-say-me-fol-ee-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Spreading Dogbane is an herbaceous perennial wildflower that is widespread across North America and is found in the mountains of NC in a forest, woodland, forest edge, prairie, meadow or field site. There are numerous small pink, nodding, bell-shaped flowers that are fragrant and striped inside with deeper pink. It grows 2-3 feet tall as a bushy shrub or perennial and spreads quickly from underground rhizomes making it inappropriate for small gardens.
This plant prefers average to dry conditions in barren sandy to rocky soils but tolerates loams in sunny to shady conditions. It was once thought to be a monarch butterfly host plant but larvae deposited there do not survive. However, the nectar is a good food source for pollinators.
Plant in a woodland or pollinator garden or naturalized areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Apocynum
- Species:
- androsaemifolium
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fiber from the plant was used by Native Americans as thread
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Follicles are 3-6" long and narrowly cylindrical. They split open at maturity to release small seeds with tufts of hair that are dispersed by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Numerous small pink, nodding, bell-like flowers, fragrant and striped inside with deeper pink on terminal cymes. June to Aug.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, oval, opposite leaves 1 1/2"-4" long 1/2"-2" wide, entire margins. Undersides are paler and may have hairs. Acute apex and a rounded base. Yellow fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are light green to red, glabrous, and terete containing milky sap.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Cardiac Arrest, nausea, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea. The milky sap from stems can cause blisters on skin.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides and others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
