Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: milkweed
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Apocynaceae
Native Range: Eastern United States
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 4.00 to 6.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to July
Bloom Description: Green and white
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist, rich, well-draining soils in part sun to full shade. Hardy in Zones 4-8.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Asclepias exaltata, commonly called poke milkweed, is a herbaceous perennial native to forest openings and edges in the northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, parts of the northern Midwest, and south through the Appalachian Mountains to far northern Georgia and Alabama. Mature plants will reach 4-6' tall and spread to fill a 2-4' area. The oppositely arranged, broadly lanceolate to ovate foliage will reach around 3-8" long and 1-3" wide. The upright stems are topped with loose, terminal umbels of small, green and white flowers in from early to mid-summer.
Genus name honors the Greek god Asklepios the god of medicine.
The specific epithet exaltata means "very tall" and refers to the potential height of this species.
The common name poke milkweed refers to the similar appearance of this plant to Phytolacca americana, American pokeweed. A now synonymous name for this species was Asclepias phytolaccoides which means "poke-like milkweed".
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Partly shaded mixed borders, naturalistic plantings, butterfly gardens.