Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca

Height: 3-4 ft
Spread: 2-3 ft
Bloom Time: June-August
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist, Medium, Dry, Very Dry
Life Cycle: Perennial
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The 3 to 4 foot stems of Common Milkweed are sturdy and upright with a milky sap. In summer, round clusters of fragrant pink flowers appear. These are visited by large numbers of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators from moths to butterflies to bees. After the flowers fade, large pods form that later release seeds attached to long fibers that float on the breeze. With time, this species can spread by roots to form large groups and should be given space to spread in habitat corridors. The large leaves are used by a variety of specialists including Monarch caterpillars and Red Milkweed Beetles, who make characteristic nibbles at the tips of the leaves. Its seeds are used by both Large and Small Milkweed Bugs. Deer Resistant.