Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

The long narrow leaves grow in whorls up the stem of whorled milkweed.  Pale green to white flowers attract many insects including several bee species, butterflies, moths, and beneficial wasps.  It is a good late season host plant for the monarch butterfly.  This species grows from underground stems (rhizomes) and can form colonies.  It's an unassuming plant that often goes unnoticed in prairies and glades until the seed pod splits open in the fall and the cottony seed tufts are exposed.

Uses:  Deer tolerant, drought tolerant, pollinators
Bloom time:  anytime between May and September

Height:  1 to 3 feet
Space:  10 to 20 inches

Sun:  Full sun to light shade
Moisture:  Dry to average (the better the soil, the more successful the rhizomes)

Seed:

• 10,250 per ounce
• 1 ounce per 300 square feet
• 9 pounds per acre