Asclepias lanceolata Walter

Lanceolate Milkweed; Few Flower Milkweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lanceolate Milkweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It can be found in central and southern Alabama. Lanceolate Milkweed grows in pitcher plant bogs, in seeps, in wet pine savannahs, and along acidic streams. It is a perennial from a tap root. Stems are from 2-5 feet in height. The stems are glabrous and green or reddish in color. Leaves are opposite, sessile, lanceolate in outline, and glabrous. Flowers are produced in a 1-3 terminal umbels. Each umbel contains less than 10 orange-red flowers. Another common name for this species is Few-flowered Milkweed. The fruit is a follicle. All parts of the plant exude a milky white latex sap when injured, and contain cardiac glycosides and resinoids which can be toxic if eaten. Lanceolate Milkweed plants or seed are sometimes available from native nurseries. It is a larval host plant for Monarch (Danaus plexippus), and Queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies. Lanceolate Milkweed requires a moist or wet, acidic soil and full sun to partial shade. It can be grown in a bog garden.—A. Diamond.

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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