Native plants for wetlands, fields or forests and an eclectic mix of other botanic delights

Asclepias viridis

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Status
Available in May
Green Milkweed, Spider Milkweed
Very few of these available
Mature Size:
' Height /
' Spread
Expected Size:
2'-3'
/
1'-2'
Light Preference:
Sun to Part Sun
Soil Preference:
Moist to Dry
Price:
$15.00/1 qt.

Asclepias viridis, commonly called Green or Green-flowered Milkweed, is an erect to sometimes decumbent, glabrous perennial that grows to 20-30" tall on usually upright stems clad with mostly alternate, short-stalked, pointed, ovate-lanceolate, pale green leaves (to 2-5” long). As with most milkweeds, the stems and leaves exude a milky sap when cut or bruised. It is native to glades, prairies, pastures, fields and roadsides from Ohio to Nebraska south to Florida and Texas. Tiny green flowers with purple hoods bloom in many-flowered axillary and terminal umbels in May and June. Each flower (to 1” long) has 5 upright pale green corolla lobes (petals) and 5 purple hoods. Horns are absent. Flowers give way to seed pods (to 5” long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements. Flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies, and leaves are a food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Additional common names include green antelope horn (curved green seedpod resembles an antelope horn) and spider milkweed (white crab spider lives on this plant).

It is easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Drought tolerant. Easily grown from seed, and will self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Plants will also spread by rhizomes, but are not considered to be invasive.

This is one of the more unusual milkweeds. We also often have the shade tolerant Asclepias exaltata, Poke Mikweed, in stock.

Information adapted from: Missouri Botanical Garden

Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Information

Prices listed are subject to change, based upon size change and availability.

We are a small local nursery with limited shipping capability. We will do our best to ship smaller material (usually 1 or 2 gallon), although we can sometimes ship larger plants with the pots removed.

We have some species that are not listed, as we have too few of them to make a full listing plausible. You can always inquire.

We will consider contract growing an order with appropriate advance notice and availability of seed, cuttings or lining out stock.

Fall Business Hours
Monday
10 - 6
Tuesday
10 - 6
Wednesday
By Appointment
Thursday
10- 6
Friday
10- 5
Saturday
10 - 5
Sunday
11- 4
Kollar Nursery | 5200 West Heaps Road, Pylesville, MD 21132 | 410.836.0500
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