Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed)

Monarch Butterflies are fully and exclusively dependent upon milkweeds for laying eggs and for larva food source and they can nectar. These plants were once so plentiful they were literally called weeds because they were problematic in agricultural fields. However, that's no longer the case with regular Glyphosate treatments to agricultural fields wiping out all "weeds". With fragmentation, global climate change, pollution, and other threats this is a major problem for Monarch butterflies that heavily depend upon the milkweed and other native plants. Monarch caterpillars need milkweeds, but also nectar sources that many native flowers provide. Help keep these going! Please consider your part in this planet, plant Monarch food sources including milkweed and other native plants.

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) is a beautiful milkweed uncommon in open woods, wooded openings, woodland edges, and open savannas.  Although it prefers moister conditions, it can tolerate some drought conditions if watered. It is much less aggressive than its cousin the common milkweed so it can be less of a bully in smaller landscapes.

• Sun Exposure Prairie/Savanna
• Soil Conditions Wet-Mesic/Mesic
• Height 2'-3'
• Flower Color White-Pink-Purple
• Flower Time June, July, August

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Photo By: Photo by and (c)2009 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>, via Wikimedia Commons