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)

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