Asclepias exaltata – Poke Milkweed – 1/2 Pint

Description

While this plant looks a lot like Common Milkweed (A. syriaca), it’s actually a rare inhabitant of upland open woods in the Catskills. It bears elegant drooping clusters of green and white flowers that provide abundant amounts of nectar for a wide variety of insects. In the wild it doesn’t flower profusely, but in the garden, with better soil and a little more sunlight, it puts on a nice floral display. The common name derives from a resemblance to Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), a considerably larger plant with dark purple, poisonous berries in the fall. When planted in a sunny area, Poke Milkweed is a suitable host plant for Monarch butterflies.