Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

common milkweed plant with rounded clumps of pink to red flowers
“common milkweed” by Tim Evanson, via Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0.
close up of small pink common milkweed flowers
“Common Milkweed” by Jason Hollinger, via Flickr. CC BY 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: attracts pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; host plant for Monarch Butterfly, Tussock Milkweed Moth, and Milkweed Beetle

Bloom period: summer

Best Areas for Planting: low to mid-moisture, full sun to part shade, well-drained soils that are loamy, sandy, and rocky

Natural Habitat: can be found in fields, pastures, roadsides, or disturbed, open habitats

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.