Asclepias variegata Asclepias variegata
Common Name(s):
- Redwing Milkweed
- White-flowered Milkweed
- White Milkweed
- Description
Redwing milkweed is a native perennial in the Acanthaceae family. The White Milkweed thrives in open woodland and woodland edge habitats and requires some shade. It does best in dry or rocky woods, sandy open ground, ravine bottoms, low woods, slopes, ridges, roadsides. Consider planting in masses to really showcase the flowers. Most growth and development of this plant occurs during the spring after the danger of hard frost has passed.
The species name describes the bicolored flowers, which are quite showy in masses.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: May-July (Spring/Summer) Nut/Fruit/Seeds: Late summer
- Cultivars:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- variegata
- Family:
- Asclepiadaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Distribution:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- The copious amount of nectar in the showy flowers attracts butterflies, skippers, and possibly moths. Other likely floral visitors include various long-tongued bees and wasps. Redring milkweed is not an important food plant for Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars although they can be occasionally found on the plants. The bitter white sap of the foliage contains toxic cardiac glycosides so it is avoided by mammalian herbivores. Very attractive to honey bees, native bees, and bumble bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is very resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full Sun (Direct sunlight 8+ hours a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Dehiscent seed pods stand erect and are a brown to reddish color.
-
-
Flower:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- May-September, long lasting white with some purple at the base of corolla which flex backward. Umbels are erect and spherical with 30 flowers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf arrangement of the White Milkweed is opposite and attachment is petiolate. Leaves are oval, 2–6 in (5-15 cm) long and ½ -3 in (1-7 ½ cm) wide, generally thick with the upper side hairless and dark and the underside a lighter color with hair.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Single stems that are thin, narrow and purple-green. Crushing reveals the milky sap typical of most milkweeds.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Asclepias variegata is often confused with:
-
Asclepias tuberosa
- Similar plants:
-
Geranium maculatum
-
Monarda fistulosa
-
Rhododendron arborescens
