Hemp Dogbane
Hemp Dogbane, Indian Hemp
Apocynum cannabinum L.
Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)
▲ colony of hemp dogbane in a field
▲ ▼ young plant stem emerging from creeping roots
▲ young, pre-flowering plant
▲ ▼ mature flowering plants
▲ ▼ mature flowering plants
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ ▼ plant with twin fruit pod clusters
▲ fall foliage color is often a clear yellow
Apocynum cannabinum L.; Hemp Dogbane: (Bayer Code: APCCA; US Code APCA)
- a warm-season, creeping perennial weed with rhizomes
- similar in appearance to milkweeds, with opposite, oval leaves, and milky or clear sap
- grows 2-5’ tall, usually with much branching toward the top of the plant
- flowers in terminal umbels, white to greenish white or sometimes slightly pinkish white
- similar species, spreading dogbane has larger, bell-like pink-white flowers, and more horizontal branches and leaves
- seed pods are long, slender in pairs--like horns--from top of plant; seeds have parachutes like milkweeds
- poisonous to livestock
- common in drier soils, in pastures, cultivated fields, roadsides, non-crop areas
(Updated January 15, 2019)