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Narrowleaved Milkweed
Asclepias stenophylla A. Gray
Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family) (formerly in the Asclepiadaceae, the Milkweed Family)
▲ mature plant
▲ mature plant with flowers
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ flower detail
Asclepias stenophylla A. Gray, Narrowleaved Milkweed, Slim-leaf Milkweed:
- A U.S. native prairie milkweed, growing 1-4 feet tall in dryer locations
- Has alternate to nearly opposite, long, linear leaves
- Flowers are in axillary clusters and are white to cream to yellow-green
- Somewhat similar to whorled milkweed, but narrowleaved milkweed’s leaves are alternate or near opposite, and seldom in a whorled arrangement
- Not usually a weed problem
The “weediness" of milkweeds has been revisited due to them being the main food for monarch butterfly larvae; therefore, milkweeds no longer are being generally considered as weeds to eradicate, and actually have legal protection in some areas.
(Posted January 19, 2019)