Clasping Milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as am-pleks-ih-KAW-liss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Clasping Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower in the Apocynaceae (dogbane family) found commonly in sandhills or dry woodland areas. It gets its common name because the base of the oppositely arranged leaves wraps around or "clasps" the stem. This is a fairly rare milkweed and is protected in some states.
Clasping Milkweed is best for meadows/natural areas and it needs dry, sandy or gravelly soil. The habit is upright with single unbranched stems and it has single rounded clusters of fragrant pink flowers that have cream or green in them and appear from late spring to mid-summer.
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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- amplexicaulis
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- A larval host plant for the monarch butterfly.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
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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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Follicle displays from June to August an erect brown spindle-shaped pod that splits open to reveal brown tuffted seeds that are wind dispersed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A solitary rounded terminal cluster of 15 to 80 dark or light pink flowers with cream or green. Flowers arise from a 1" stalk and are 5/8" with 5 petals that curve open revealing a 5-parted center crown. Bloom occurs from May to July and have a rose or clove scent.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Sessile (stalkless) simple, swaxy opposite leaves 3"-5" long and 2" wide with a pink to white midrib. Leaf blades are oval shape, have wavy margins, and a blunt tip with a small sharp point at the very top.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green to pinkish
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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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
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
