Bamboozled

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a compact, attractive plant that thrives in dry, full sun environments.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syrica), pictured left, is perhaps the most commonly encountered milkweed on the East Coast. It can be aggressive and will readily colonize recently disturbed areas, but appears to be one of the preferred host milkweeds for Monarch butterflies. This could be because of its tendency to grow in dense clusters which provides a reliable food source for caterpillars.

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), pictured right, is a more conservation species that can indicate a high-quality ecosystem if found in the wild. It does not tolerate shade or consistently damp soil as it naturally tends towards rocky, barren-like habitats. It does not tolerate much disturbance but can be easily propagated by seed for at-home plantings.

Above are two of our less common, shade-tolerant species. Redring Milkweed, left (Asclepias variegata), and Four-leaved Milkweed, right (Asclepias quadrifolia). The former is relatively common in shaded, dry roadsides and woodlands across the Piedmont. The latter is slightly less common, tolerant of deep shade and tends to be restricted to base-rich soils.

23 years under this life-giving Sun

Water Dance