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Asclepias rubra L.

Red Milkweed, Tall Pink Bog Milkweed

Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Synonyms: Asclepias laurifolia

USDA Symbol: ASRU

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Herbaceous perennial with narrow, mostly glabrous stems 16 to 40 in height. Leaves opposite, ovate or lanceolate, 5-15 cm in length; sessile or nearly so. Inflorescences terminal and axillary from upper leaf nodes in many-flowered umbels. Flowers showy; color varies from lavender to pink to dull-red. Follicles 8-12cm long.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acuminate , Acute
Leaf Base: Cordate , Rounded
Leaf Texture: Leathery
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Inflorescence: Axillary , Cyme , Terminal , Umbel
Size Notes: Plant 16-40 in height.
Fruit: Follicle 8-12 cm in length.
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Blooms late spring to summer.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , PA , SC , TX , VA
Native Distribution: NY south to FL, west to AR and TX.
Native Habitat: Bogs and marshy area in meadows and pine barrens.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Drought Tolerance: Low
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist to wet acidic soils.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Useful for wetland gardens or landscapes with permanently moist soils.
Use Wildlife: Larval food for Monarch butterfly.
Use Food: Poisonous.
Warning: All parts poisonous.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Monarch butterfly.
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Asclepias rubra in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Asclepias rubra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Asclepias rubra

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-09-11
Research By: JAM

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