Asclepias perennis
(Swamp Milkweed)
Common Names, Latin Name, and Family
Its common names include swamp milkweed and white milkweed.
Sometimes it can be confusing because Asclepias incarnata is also called swamp milkweed, but it has pink flowers. They grow in the same habitat and look similar until they flower.
Its Latin name is Asclepias perennis.
Asclepias perennis is in the Apocynaceae, or dogbane, family.
Form
Swamp milkweed is a perennial wildflower that grows to a height of about 2 feet.
Leaves
The leaves are opposite with entire margins. They are stalked and are elliptic to lanceolate in shape. When broken the leaves exude a milky sap.
Flowers
The white flowers appear in umbels at the end of the plant stalks. Flowering occurs in the spring, summer and fall.
Habitat
Swamp milkweed grows in moist areas such as wet woods, stream banks, river banks, ditches, cypress swamps and wet ditches.
Native Range
In Florida it is found naturally occurring from the panhandle south to DeSoto County.
Asclepias perennis is native to the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, SC, TN, and TX.
Landscape Use
In the home landscape it grows in full sun with average to moist soils.
It needs a good source of sunlight in order for it to produce flowers, and constant moisture to keep it thriving.
It can be grown in containers if given constant moisture.
Wildlife Uses:
The flowers are a source of nectar for many insects including bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, and wasps.
The foliage, and seed pods, are larval food for the monarch, queen, and soldier butterflies.
Propagation
Can be grown easily from seed and transplanted when small. It can also be propagated by cuttings.
Check out my article about every native milkweed in Florida here!
It has every native species and a range map for each one.