Plant DetailShow Menu

Lanceolated Milkwort Asclepias lanceolata

Phonetic Spelling
as-KLEE-pee-as lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

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:
Tags:
#orange flowers#wetlands#stream banks#pond margins#summer flowers#native wildflower#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source summer#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#bird friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#poor drainage tolerant#perennial#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#orange flowers#wetlands#stream banks#pond margins#summer flowers#native wildflower#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source summer#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#bird friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#poor drainage tolerant#perennial#boggy sites
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Long, smooth, slender green to purplish stem
  • 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
  • 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