Proofreaders: This page is simply a mockup I copied and pasted from another website, so it won’t be going live and you don’t have to proofread the content for errors. The Plant Database will be a time-consuming project that won’t be ready for a while, but you can give feedback on the idea and how you think it should be formatted, linked, etc. Tammy also suggested linking directly to the Square app inventory, so I am going to look into that.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a native herbaceous perennial that appeals to butterflies—especially the monarch butterfly. Asclepias is the only plant family that serves as the host plant for monarch butterfly egg laying. The monarch larvae, the hatchling caterpillars, feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. Without milkweed, there can be no monarch butterflies.
Common milkweed grows quickly to two to four feet in height. It has a narrow vertical growth habit and thick, long, oblong green leaves that grow to about eight inches.
Plant seedlings in the early spring after the danger of frost has passed and direct-sow seeds in the ground in the late fall. Once established, milkweed spreads rapidly by self-seeding if seed pods are not removed. In late spring to mid-summer, fragrant clusters of pink-purple flowers appear. Milkweed’s leaves and the milk-like substance within are poisonous, except to monarch butterflies. *Although milkweeds are poisonous raw, the young shoots, leaves and seed pods are all edible cooked. When placed in cold water, brought to a boil and simmered till tender, milkweeds are said to be delicately flavored and harmless.
| Common Name | Milkweed, common milkweed |
| Botanical Name | Asclepias syriaca |
| Family | Apocynaceae/Asclepiadaceae |
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 2 to 4 ft. tall |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Any well-drained soil; tolerates clay soil and poor, dry conditions |
| Soil pH | 4.8 to 7.2 |
| Bloom Time | June to August |
| Flower Color | Pink, mauve, white |
| Hardiness Zones | 3 to 9 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Eastern United States |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and animals * |
