Asclepias purpurascens
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Tried and True Recommended by 3 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: purple milkweed
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Apocynaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Native Range: Eastern North America
Garden Location: Christopher Biraben Butterfly Meadow
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Color: Pink, Purple
Bloom Description: Rose-pink to purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Shallow, Rocky Soil, Drought, Deer
Uses: Erosion Control, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Does well in poor, dryish soils. Drought tolerant. Easily grown from seed, and will self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Can spread somewhat rapidly by rhizomes. Often forms extensive colonies in the wild.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Purple milkweed is a rough, weedy, Missouri native perennial that commonly occurs in dry to moist open woods, dry ridge tops, thickets, glades, prairie openings, stream banks and wet meadows throughout most of the state (Steyermark). It is similar in appearance to common milkweed (A. syriaca), except its flowers are deep rose pink and its leaves are more pointed. It typically grows 2-3’ tall on stout, upright stems with heavy, pointed, short-stalked, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, opposite leaves (to 8” long). Leaves are dark green above and slightly pubescent below. Stems and leaves exude a milky sap when cut or bruised. Tiny, deep rose-pink flowers appear in many-flowered umbels in May-July. Each tiny flower (to 3/4” long) has 5 reflexed petals and 5 purple heads. Flowers give way to smooth seed pods (to 6” long) which split open when ripe releasing their numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements. Flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and leaves are a food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Asclepias is the Greek god of healing and purpurescens means purple.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Somewhat weedy and can spread.

Garden Uses

Butterfly gardens, meadows, prairies, or naturalized/native plant areas. This plant is considered by many gardeners to be too vigorous and weedy for borders.

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