Milkweed Flower. Milkweed is the host plant of the monarch butterfly. The two milkweed our labs study are the common milkweed asclepias syriaca and the showy milkweed asclepias speciosa we study these milkweed species to try to understand what happens when different species hybridize and how they adapt to different environments.
Asclepias Variegata Pee Dee Nwr Milkweed Plant Milkweed Seeds Asclepias from www.pinterest.com
Milkweed is a lovely wildflower and the sole host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Most species are toxic to humans and many other species primarily due to the presence of cardenolides although as with many such plants there are species that feed upon them i e. Common milkweed asclepias syriaca is the best known of the 100 or so milkweed species native to north america.
Learn how to plant milkweed get care tips and recommendations for which types to grow.
The corona often has five upright hoods which are usually rigid boat shaped and brightly. Up to now the description of the milkweed has been easy. The milkweed flower asclepias syriaca and its cousin butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa are an integral part of the butterfly garden a source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing milkweed supplies larvae of the monarch with food and shelter providing caterpillars food and a resting place before they leave the caterpillar.
