Asclepias speciosa #1 (Showy Milkweed)

Showy Milkweed is a tall, sun-loving perennial native to the western half of North America. It thrives in dry, rocky soils and weathers the sun, drought and harsh winter conditions. It is a milkweed for wide open areas and requires little to no care. It is very similar to our Ohio native Common Milkweed, but it does not tend to spread aggressively by rhizomes to form large colonies. This makes it a good choice for smaller or more managed landscapes, as it is easy to restrain in its upright, clumping habit. It also tends to be more compact and its flowers are a bit more ornate and showy (hence the common name.)

Milkweeds are incredibly important plants because they act as a larval host and as a nectar source for adult butterflies and other insects. North America’s celebrity butterfly, the Monarch, lays her eggs on milkweed plants. The distinctive yellow, black and white striped caterpillars eat only the leaves of this genus, making them a vital part of the ecosystem from coast to coast. It also hosts a specialist moth, the Milkweed Tussock Moth, as well as many milkweed beetles and bugs. They are very active plants, always crawling with beautiful and interesting creatures that are drawn to it! Milkweeds are a productive, necessary and worthy group of plants to include in any landscape.

See here for information on creating, conserving, protecting and even registering your Monarch Waystation.

Sources:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Monarch Watch

Photo Credits:
Integrated Landscape: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flower Detail with Monarch: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons