Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as pur-pur-ESS-kenz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Purple Milkweed is a perennial wildflower native to eastern and central USA. It is a rare species in NC but can be found in swampy areas to dry woodlands and meadows of the Piedmont and mountains. The plant is similar to common milkweed but the flowers are a deeper purple to rose-pink. They occur in clusters from May to July and attract bees and butterflies. The leaves are host to the monarch butterfly larvae. This plant can spread aggressively by seeds and rhizomes and is not appropriate for small gardens.
It is easy to grow in average moist to dry well-drained soils in full sun. It is drought and deer tolerant. Use in naturalized areas as meadows, native plantings, wild gardens, along streams or ponds and to attract 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:
- Native Woodland Garden, Durham
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- purpurascens
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar and larval host plant that attracts bees, butterflies (notably Monarchs), hummingbirds (milkweeds are a source of insects as well as nectar), moths (especially milkweed tussock moths and their larvae), pollinators, predatory Insects, and specialized bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Up to 6" long and 1" across smooth seed pods with short hairs split open when mature to release numerous seeds with tufts of white hairs for dispersal by the wind July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3/4 inch deep rose-pink to purple flowers with 5 petals appear in clusters 2-3 inches across May-July.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 4-8 inches long and 2-3 inches across, ovate to oblong-lanceolate and opposite. Dark green above and slightly pubescent below. Margins may be wavy and curl upward.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect green stems may have fine hairs and ooze a milky sap when broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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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
