What is the common name for Asclepias?
Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a species of flowering plant. Please plant milkweed to support monarch populations and their incredible migration! Planting milkweed is a great way to help other pollinators, providing valuable nectar resources to a diverse suite of bees and butterflies. For a brief how-to flyer on planting and gardening, download MJV’s Gardening for Monarchs.Monarchs’ reliance on milkweeds (Asclepias spp. The adults depend on diverse flowers for nectar to fuel them during breeding and on their long migration.The caterpillars can only feed on milkweed plants, thus, making milkweed more common as people plant this flower for the butterflies. The downside of this practice of planting milkweed is the possibility for encroachment into livestock pastures and hayfields.Diversify your milkweed but avoid tropical milkweed Ideally, you don’t want just one species of native milkweed in your garden but you should always avoid tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). This is incredibly easy to grow, but it comes with host parasites that will hurt monarch butterflies.Plants Not To Grow With Milkweed Plants that require shade or even partial sun and plants that need damp soil or frequent watering will not do well in the same area as milkweed. Plants like hosta, coral bells, and Joe Pye weed will do best in another area of a yard or outdoor space.
Is the milkweed plant poisonous?
Leaves or other above-ground parts of the plant are poisonous. They contain several glucosidic substances called cardenolides that are toxic. Milkweed may cause losses at any time, but it is most dangerous during the active growing season. Several species of milkweed are poisonous to range animals. Milkweed can sicken livestock when they eat enough of it. Animals tend to steer clear of the toxic plants, but accidental poisonings do happen, particularly if milkweed infiltrates a hayfield and gets cut, dried and served up to livestock mixed into their hay.Some species spread aggressively – Common Milkweed can take over garden beds due to its rhizomatous roots. It is toxic to pets and livestock – Care should be taken when planting near grazing areas. Aphids and pests may be a problem – Oleander aphids often infest plants, though they do little harm.While horses and other equines are most at risk for milkweed poisoning, all animals including chickens, cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, and even humans, as well as some insects, are susceptible to milkweed toxins.While awareness is rising around the importance of milkweed (as well as other native plants) for pollinators we want to clear up any misconceptions. Because the fact is, planting the right species of milkweed for your area can be a huge help to monarchs and a number of other species.
Which milkweed is best for monarchs?
Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. Monarch caterpillars hatching from eggs laid on tall green milkweed (A. The main monarch host plant is Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed). Other species used by monarchs, in order of their abundance and preference, are A. A. A.AWESOME ASCLEPIAS, aka Milkweed. Milkweeds are a subfamily of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). Most of us are familiar with the extreme dependency of the Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) on milkweed plants. These native perennials are the only plants that Monarch larvae (caterpillars) will eat.Monarch butterflies only lay eggs on milkweed and monarch caterpillars only feed on milkweed leaves. The key to this specialized relationship is found in the milky latex produced by the plant, which contains compounds called cardiac glycosides that are poisonous to most other animals.The name milkweed refers to the milky latex contained within the leaves. Most species are toxic to vertebrate herbivores if ingested due to the cardenolide alkaloids contained in the leaves and stems.Milkweed belongs to the genus Asclepias, named after Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. When injured, this flowering plant secretes a thick, white, milky sap that has been used for centuries in different cultures as an effective topical skin treatment.
Can humans drink milkweed?
Some of those websites state that the cardiac glycosides present in milkweed are water soluble, making milkweed safe to eat if cooked properly. However, there is no evidence that this is correct. Eating milkweed, even when it is cooked or boiled, is not recommended and is potentially very dangerous. Toxicity varies with the species and growing conditions, however all milkweeds should be considered potentially poisonous, especially the narrow-leafed species. Some broad-leafed species that contain high levels of cardenolides include Asclepias asperula, A. A.The toxic nature of milkweed is due to one of two agents: cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) or an unidentified neurotoxin. The cardiac glycosides are found in the majority of milkweed species, while the neurotoxin is specific to the whorled-leaf types such as horsetail milkweed.Milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides, naturally occurring drugs that increase the force of heart contraction and have been used to treat heart conditions. Cardiac glycosides also have potential anti-cancer application; in the lab, they exhibit properties toxic to cancer cells.The ASPCA reports that milkweed can contribute to poisoning in dogs and cats. Cardiovascular warning signs from any kind of milkweed ingestion include abnormal heart rhythm and rate.
Is Asclepias the same as milkweed?
Asclepias syriaca is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family; often referred to as common milkweed. It is one of approximately 115 species of milkweed that grow through North and South America. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), showy milkweed (A. A. Most milkweed species do best in full sunlight, so choose an open area with lots of sun. Plant the seedlings 1-2 feet apart.Most milkweed species grow particularly well in disturbed areas, so start by looking in the following places: roadsides, pastures, along railroad tracks, bike paths, highway medians, agricultural field margins, vacant land, cultivated gardens, and parks.Milkweeds can be grown from seeds or vegetatively from root cuttings or rhizomes.It is recommended to prune the milkweed stalks to about 6 inches in height during the fall and winter months to discourage monarchs from establishing winter-breeding colonies.Overview of milkweed life cycle The plants typically flower between late spring and the end of summer. Following seed dispersal, their aboveground growth dies back to the ground. They then remain dormant through the winter, and re-emerge in the spring from established root systems.