Asclepias lanceolata (Fewflower Milkweed)
Lanceolated Milkwort, Fewflower Milkweed, Few-flower Milkweed, Red Milkweed
Asclepias lanceolata (Fewflower Milkweed) is an erect perennial wildflower prized for its umbels of 5-12 bright orange-yellow flowers adorned with a red corolla. Blooming for weeks from early to late summer, they sit atop long, slender purplish stems, clad with narrow, opposite, lanceolate leaves, up to 8 in. long (20 cm). The colorful umbels give way to seed pods that dry and split open as the fruit matures. Flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies. Fewflower Milkweed is best suited for moist to wet landscapes.
Milkweed plants are critical to monarch butterflies' survival, whose population in North America has plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years. By planting milkweed in your own garden, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects!
- Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 1-2 ft. wide (30-60 cm)
- Thrives in full sun in medium to wet soils.
- Low maintenance, this perennial plant is generally pest and disease free.
- Perfect for sunny borders, cottage gardens, bog gardens, along ponds or streams, or for naturalizing.
- Propagate by seed.
- Stems exude a toxic milky sap when cut.
- Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
- Native to savannas, fresh and slightly brackish marshes along and coastal plain from New Jersey into Florida
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Requirements
Hardiness | 7
– 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Asclepias |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24" (60cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Southwest, Texas |
Tolerance | Wet Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Anne Lindgren, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 7
– 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Asclepias |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24" (60cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Southwest, Texas |
Tolerance | Wet Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |