Milk Weed

Milkweed - Asclepias Syriaca 

Several species of milkweed are standard across the United States. Their flowers are distinctive in shape and colors. Dark green leaves on tall stiff stems highlight this orange, pink, white or yellow flowers of the Asclepias family. Their tall stems mix well with other tall garden flowers. Their strong colors and decorative flowers make great ornamental cut flowers. The sap of the milkweed is white, sticky and toxic. Milkweed is perennial. It is a beneficial conservation plant. Milkweed attracts native bees and honeybees as well as several species of butterflies and hummingbirds. Colorful Monarch butterfly larvae feed on the leaves, and each develops into a beautiful chrysalis. Watch them hatch into delicate monarch butterflies.

This plant can frequently be found in gardens, along roads, and in fields. They will have a bloom that is pinkish to little purple clusters that will hang down. They also will have a green pod that will turn brown and busts open to let out seeds.

This plant can spread to the ground by rhizomes which can quickly crowd out other plants. When one breaks the stem, it will let out a milky like a sap. This sap contains a toxic poison, called Cardiac Glycosides. Some wildlife can eat this and not be harmed. When the monarch butterfly feeds on this plant, it causes it to become a poisonous caterpillar to predators. The seeds will spread by the wind catching them and carrying them off.

Milkweed has small, delicate flowers that makeup one
This plant will attract butterflies to your area, and usually, the monarch will lay their eggs on this plant. Once the caterpillars come out, they will feed on the leaves. No need to fertilize as these will grow in the poorest of the soil. If you don't care for the seed to spread, you will want to remove the pods before they open, or you will have seeds growing everywhere. Milkweed has a juicy flavor that can be used for food or wildlife animals use it.