Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata
Other plants called Whorled Milkweed:
- Phonetic Spelling
- as-KLEE-pee-as ver-ti-si-LAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Whorled Milkweed is a native perennial wildflower in the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family found in the sandhills, thin woodlands and barren outcroppings in all areas of NC and most of the US east of the Rockies. The thin linear leaves are arranged in whorls along the stem and the white flowers appear in small clusters May to September. They are a favorite of bees and butterflies and the plant is a host to the monarch butterfly larvae.
Whorled Milkweed is easy to grow in average, moist to dry, well-drained soils and flowers best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. It is resistant to deer, drought and dry soils. Use this plant in naturalized areas, pollinator gardens or meadows. It will spread by seed and rhizomes. Seed pods can be removed before self-seeding occurs and are sometimes used in dry flower arrangements.
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:
- verticillata
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA, Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators. Host plant to the monarch butterfly.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3-4 inches long and .5 inch wide smooth, narrow seed pods split open when mature releasing numerous seeds with long tufts of white hair that are dispersed by the wind from September to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny tubular 5-petaled flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils and stem tips from May to September. Flowers are white to greenish-white
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3 inch long, narrow, sessile, linear leaves arranged in whorls of 3-6 per node along the stem. Margins rolled downward (revolute). Undersides with whitish-green with short hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Unbranched green stems with vertical lines of short pubescence ooze a milky sap if broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- 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 glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
