Asclepias variegata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as vair-ee-ah-GAY-ta
- Description
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White Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower that may grow 8 to 12 inches tall. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin and pale underside. Small, white flowers that have a purple center mature in May-July. The herb produces one or two large wart-like pods that mature in the fall.Redwing milkweed is a native perennial in the Acanthaceae family. The White Milkweed thrives in open upland forests 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.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: May-July (Spring/Summer) Nut/Fruit/Seeds: Late summer
- 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:
- variegata
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The copious amount of nectar in the showy flowers attracts butterflies including Monarch (Danaus plexippus) 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 which appear in the spring and summer and may have one to three broods in the north and four to six broods in the south. This butterfly breeds all year long in Florida, south Texas, and southeastern California. Adult Monarch butterflies feed on nectar from all species of milkweeds. 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: 6 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- 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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Dehiscent seed pods stand erect and are a brown to reddish color. Late summer.
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Flowers:
- 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. Flower blooms from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant 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.
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
