Asclepias Syriaca Range. Asclepias syriaca commonly called common milkweed butterfly flower silkweed silky swallow wort and virginia silkweed is a species of flowering plant it is in the genus asclepias the milkweeds this species is native to southern canada and of much of the conterminous eastern u s east of the rocky mountains excluding the drier parts of the prairies. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below this plant may be known by one or more common names in different places and some are listed above.
Whole plant with flowers. Monarch caterpillar on leaf. Similar species where found common milkweed can easily be confused with purple milkweed asclepias purpurascens l however purple milkweed has bright purple flowers located at the apex of the plant and also are mostly found in swamp forests.
Monarch caterpillar on leaf.
Common milkweed is native to eastern north america and is most commonly found growing in poor dryish soils in fields open woods waste areas roadsides and alongside railroad tracks. Photo by david taylor. This plant has no children legal status. Common milkweed asclepias syriaca is a perennial herb growing from a deep rhizome.