Asclepias Asclepias lanceolata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Few-flower Milkweed is a slim upright perennial milkweed native to the coastal plains of eastern USA including NC and is found in savannahs, wet pinelands, moist ditches and brackish and freshwater marshes. It is nearly inconspicuous in its native habitat until it sends up tall flower stems that produce small clusters of bright orange to red flowers during the summer. The leaves are long and very slender.
This plant prefers wet to moist low-nutrient soils in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Use in the bog garden and wet sites along ponds or streams or for naturalizing. It attracts many pollinators and is the larval host plant for the monarch and other butterflies.
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:
- lanceolata
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern coastal USA
- Distribution:
- NJ south to FL west to TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant to the monarch, queen and soldier butterflies. Nectar plant for pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 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
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a dry slender follicle with many hair-tufted seeds that are wind-dispersed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-3 umbels on terminal stems. Each umbel has 5-12 bright orange-yellow flowers with red corolla. Blooms from June to August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow, opposite, lanceolate leaves are 6-8 in. long. The stem is smooth and slender. There is wide spacing between pairs of leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Long, smooth, slender green to purplish stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- 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 glycosides and resinoids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems