What is the common name for milkweed?
Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a species of flowering plant. It is native to southern Canada and much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding the drier parts of the prairies. Not only is milkweed a great nectar source for thirsty pollinators, it is also THE ONLY host plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs upon. Milkweed is also a great nectar source for monarchs and many other pollinators; fortunately for us, it comes in many varieties to choose from.Common milkweed is Nature’s mega food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant. Numerous insects are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers and it is not at all uncommon to see flies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and butterflies on the flowers at the same time.Perennial milkweeds grow back year after year. They provide habitat for traveling Monarch butterflies. If the milkweed is a perennial, like Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed) pictured above, you’ll notice tiny leaves growing from the base of the plant at some point after the upper stems have been consumed.Milkweed Provides Nectar for Insects Milkweed provides plentiful nectar to honeybees, bumble bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, and other native pollinators. Milkweed depends on insects for pollination and in return the insects receive easy nectar from milkweed’s many small flowers growing in large clusters.Milkweed pods are delicious in stew or just served as a boiled vegetable, perhaps with cheese or mixed with other veggies. At our house, we eat the smallest pods whole, but we pull the silk out of the larger (but still immature) pods.
What can be mistaken for milkweed?
Common Milkweed vs Hemp Dogbane. These two species are in the same family, and are easily confused early in the season. Both are long-rhizomatous, with simple, opposite leaves with entire margins. Later in the season, they can easily be told apart by flowers, seed pods, or branching habit. The answer is, it depends. Annual vs. Asclepias Physocarpa pictured above, you can scatter the open seed pods around the soil and cut the stalks down to the ground.Description Milkweeds are erect perennial herbs which have either 6-12 cm broad, veined leaves or narrow linear leaves seldom more than 2-4 cm wide, arranged either alternately or in whorls. Most species (except A.Milkweed can take its sweet time to germinate. It needs the ideal conditions–the right amount of moisture, warm temperatures, and a good amount of sun–before it decides to sprout.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.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. Cutting back the milkweed will also help to eliminate OE spores that may be present on the plant.
Where can you find milkweed?
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. Milkweed likes sun or partial sun Grow milkweed in a sunny area surrounded by shorter, native flowers. Milkweed is perfect along driveways and in front sunny gardens.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.For plantings to support monarchs, the Xerces Society and NRCS recommend including at least 1. Across the U. S.Once it is established it can spread from its rhizomatous root system. Common milkweed stems are covered with opposite, oval shaped leaves. The pink, clustered flowers are incredibly fragrant and are attractive to a wide range of pollinators, from bees to butterflies.Most milkweed species do best in full sunlight, so choose an open area with lots of sun. Plant the seedlings 1-2 feet apart.
Can you eat milkweed?
Milkweed pods are delicious in stew or just served as a boiled vegetable, perhaps with cheese or mixed with other veggies. At our house, we eat the smallest pods whole, but we pull the silk out of the larger (but still immature) pods. Leaves may be narrow or broad. 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.If it’s your first time eating milkweed pods, blanch them in boiling salted water for a minute or two first and consume no more than 2 ounces. Blanch young milkweed pods in boiling water before cooking.Eating milkweed, even when it is cooked or boiled, is not recommended and is potentially very dangerous.Myth #4: Because milkweed is toxic, you shouldn’t plant it Milkweed does contain toxins that can be harmful to pets, livestock and people. The milky sap for which it gets its name leaks out from the stem or leaves.When milkweed is swallowed, symptoms of toxicity usually appear within a few hours. Initial symptoms consist of stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion. Symptoms of severe toxicity include seizures, heart rhythm changes, and severe slowing of the heart rate.
What is special about milkweed?
Milkweeds produce high quality nectar and depend on a variety of insects (bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and true bugs) to transfer pollen for seed production. Although adult monarchs visit milkweeds for nectar, swallowtail butterflies and Nymphalis species are more frequent visitors. 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.While butterflies and moths do not care for their young after hatching, they do lay their eggs on the appropriate host plant, which will be food for the newly hatched caterpillars. For monarchs, that’s milkweed!If disappearing caterpillars are 5th instar caterpillars, odds are they moved away from your milkweeds to find a safe place to form their chrysalis (they typically do not pupate on milkweed plants). If earlier instars or eggs are disappearing, a more likely culprit is a monarch predator.
How poisonous is milkweed to humans?
When milkweed is swallowed, symptoms of toxicity usually appear within a few hours. Initial symptoms consist of stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion. Symptoms of severe toxicity include seizures, heart rhythm changes, and severe slowing of the heart rate. Many indigenous tribes applied milkweed sap for wart removal and chewed its roots to treat dysentery. It was also used in salves and infusions to treat swelling, rashes, coughs, fevers and asthma. Milkweed was even added to dishes for flavor, or to thicken soups.Although many milkweeds contain resinoids, most of the ones that cause fatal poisonings contain cardenolides (cardiac glycosides). These cardenolides are similar to digoxin causing electrolyte balances in heart muscle resulting in arrhythmias and cardiac failure.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.The toxic milky white sap, which gives milkweed its name, was applied to remove warts. Native Americans also learned how to prepare parts of the milkweed plant for food, a knowledge they shared with settlers (young milkweed shoots and pods, lightly sautéed, are a forager’s delight).