Sun Exposure: Sun - Part Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Soil Type: Sand, Loam, Loam-Clay, Gravelly
Height: 1-2 feet
Spread: 2-3 feet
Blooms: July, August, September
Root: Fibrous, Long-rhizomatous
Habitat: Prairies, Savannas, Limestone glades, Meadows
Landscape uses: Pollinator gardens, Natural gardens, Drought tolerant, Deer resistant
Wildlife Value: The nectar of the flowers attracts many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers and beetles. Host Plant: Monarch Butterfly
Seed Origin: Winona, MN (Prairie Moon seed supplier)
Germination Code: C(30)
Photo credits: #1 by wackybadger, #2 by Eric Hunt, #3 by wackybadger
Asclepias verticillata - Whorled Milkweed
Whorled Milkweed is a later blooming Asclepias species - often into September. The slender leaves of this small milkweed are whorled around the stem and grant a delicate texture that looks best with other plants of smaller stature. Plant this milkweed in an interplanting design or rock garden. Sandy or gravelly soil is well tolerated and this plant will do best in open gardens not dominated by taller species. This milkweed will spread by rhizomes to form an attractive drift of white topped flowers. Slender seed pods are formed later in the season, with leaves turning yellow and orange which provide interest well into autumn.