by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages
Asclepiadaceae > Asclepias (milkweed) | |
Few-flowered Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) Brunswick Co., NC 14 Aug 2006 Uncommon in the NC coastal plain, the usual color pattern is to have orange-red petals with a lighter yellow-orange corona, as seen here. Click here for more photos of different flowers of Asclepias lanceolata. | |
Few-flowered Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) Brunswick Co., NC 14 Aug 2006 A few pairs of opposite, lanceolate leaves are found on the stem. Click here for more photos of different flowers of Asclepias lanceolata. | |
Few-flowered Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) Brunswick Co., NC 14 Aug 2006 Apparently very rare, however, is a form with pink-purple flowers! Note, two leaves are missing on the upper stem. Lower leaves show that the arrangement is indeed opposite on this plant. Click here for more photos of different flowers of Asclepias lanceolata. |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Moore Co., NC 10 June 2006 True to its name, Butterfly Weed attracts many species of butterflies (like the Gray Hairstreaks shown here). | |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Caswell Co., NC 17 June 2006 Fairly common statewide in NC along roadsides, powerlines, pastures, etc. | |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Caswell Co., NC 17 June 2006 | |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Person Co., NC 13 June 2006 | |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Caswell Co., NC 17 June 2006 Butterfly Weed color varies from a deep, rich coral red-orange to a pale yellow-orange. | |
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) 1 July 2005 As this cluster planted in my yard shows, it makes an excellent native addition to one's garden. |
Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Durham Co., NC 2 Nov 2013 Native to the American tropics, Scarlet (or Tropical Milkweed) is often planted in gardens and ocassionally comes back from seed and persists, although it is not invasive. | |
Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Durham Co., NC 2 Nov 2013 | |
Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Durham Co., NC 2 Nov 2013 Ripe seed pod with wind-dispersed seeds. | |
Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Durham Co., NC 2 Nov 2013 Note developing seed pods below flowers. |
Scarlet Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Collier Co., FL 17 Apr 2005 |
Blunt-leaved Milkweed, Clasping Milkweed, Sand Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) Person Co., NC 13 Jun 2006 Common in and near various (usually dry) woodlands statewide in NC, note the wavy leaf margins and fairly loose inflourescence. | |
Blunt-leaved Milkweed, Clasping Milkweed, Sand Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) Person Co., NC 13 Jun 2006 | |
Blunt-leaved Milkweed, Clasping Milkweed, Sand Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) Person Co., NC 13 Jun 2006 |
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Dutchess Co., NY 19 Jun 04 Shown here with a Broad-winged Skipper, this Summer to Fall blooming species is a good nectar plant for butterflies and is found statewide in moist areas in NC. | |
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) St. Clair Co., MI 7 July 2012 | |
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) St. Clair Co., MI 7 July 2012 | |
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Washington Co., NC 19 Jun 04 With a Palamedes Swallowtail. |
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) St. Clair Co., MI 7 July 2012 |
Savanna Milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata) Longleaf Pine savanna in Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 A rare plant in North Carolina, this species grows in pine savannas in the coastal plain. | |
Savanna Milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata) Longleaf Pine savanna in Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 Note the dull reddish fruit (follicle). | |
Savanna Milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata) Longleaf Pine savanna in Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 Mid-stem leaves | |
Savanna Milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata) Longleaf Pine savanna in Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 | |
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) Johnston Co., NC 29 May 2005 This milkweed is listed by the NC Natural Heritage Program as Significantly Rare in NC (known only from a few counties from the mountains to the western coastal plain). | |
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) same as above |
Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Johnston Co., NC 29 May 2005 Widespread in NC | |
Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Johnston Co., NC 29 May 2005 | |
Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Person Co., NC 13 June 2006 | |
Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Orange Co., NC 22 May 2008 | |
Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) Orange Co., NC 22 May 2008 Note the red rings around the base of each flower. |
Longleaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) Brunswick Co., NC 13 Aug 2006 Uncommon in the NC coastal plain, this species is on the NC Natural Heritage Program Watch List. | |
Longleaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) Brunswick Co., NC 13 Aug 2006 | |
Longleaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) Johnston Co., NC 29 May 2005 | |
Longleaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) Johnston Co., NC29 May 2005 |
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Orange Co., NC 15 June 2006 In NC, Common Milkweed is indeed common in the mountains, less common in the piedmont, and rare in the coastal plain. | |
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Orange Co., NC 15 June 2006 Like many milkweeds, this species is an excellent nectar plant for butterflies. | |
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with Oleander Aphid (Aphis nerii) infestation Orange Co., NC 15 June 2006 Often found feeding on oleander, wax plant, and many milkweeds, the Oleander Aphis (also called the Milkweed Aphid) is golden yellow with black legs. Interestingly, all individuals of this aphid world-wide are thought to be females, and reproduction occurs by way of natural parthenogenetic cloning. | |
Oleander Aphid (Aphis nerii) infestation on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Orange Co., NC 15 June 2006 Natural predators of Oleander Aphids include parasitoid wasps, various fly larvae, and various beetles. Looks like this ladybird beetle is testing the dinner plate! Click here for more photos showing the variability of Common Milkweed. |
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Washington Co., NC 21 June 2006 Two American Ladies and a Dion Skipper enjoy a rare disjunct patch of Common Milkweed growing in the North Carolina coastal plain. |
Poke Milkweed, Tall Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) Floyd Co., VA 23 June 2007 Grows along the edges of forested habitats in the NC mountains. | |
Poke Milkweed, Tall Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) Floyd Co., VA 23 June 2007 | |
This population of milkweeds at Moses Cone Manor is believed to be composed of hybrids (Asclepias syriaca x A. exaltata) Watauga Co., NC26 July 2006 | |
hybrid milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca x A. exaltata) Watauga Co., NC 26 July 2006 | |
hybrid milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca x A. exaltata) Watauga Co., NC 26 July 2006 |
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Person Co., NC 13 June 2006 Uncommon throughout the piedmont and western coastal plain of NC, Green Milkweed is found along woodland edges and disturbed areas, often growing in high pH soils. | |
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Person Co., NC 13 June 2006 | |
Green Milkweed, Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 21 July 2019 | |
Green Milkweed, Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 21 July 2019 | |
Green Milkweed, Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 21 July 2019 | |
Green Milkweed, Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 21 July 2019 | |
Green Milkweed, Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 3 Aug 2019 With a fruit pod |
Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Madison Co., NC 18 May 2023 | |
Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Madison Co., NC 18 May 2023 | |
Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Clay Co., NC 19 May 2007 | |
Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Clay Co., NC 19 May 2007 | |
Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia) Clay Co., NC 19 May 2007 |
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006 Statewide but uncommon in NC. | |
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006 The skinny, whorled leaves are distinctive in this species. | |
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006 |
Patches of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) are indeed common at Cone Meadows off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Watauga Co., NC26 July 2006 |
Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.
Created on ... May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com