SafePlants

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Asclepias speciosa, commonly known as Showy Milkweed or Spider Milkweed, is a perennial plant found in various regions of North America.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions "milky sap," a characteristic of milkweed plants.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions "milky sap," a characteristic of milkweed plants.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Asclepias speciosa
• Common Names: Showy Milkweed, Spider Milkweed
• Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family), formerly Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to a wide range of areas, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
• Found in various habitats such as roadsides, ditchbanks, pastures, and cultivated areas.

Ecological Role

• Showy Milkweed is a crucial host plant for Monarch butterfly larvae. The caterpillars feed on the leaves, and the milky sap they ingest makes them unpalatable to predators.

Morphological Characteristics

• The plant is described as clump-forming.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Primary food source for Monarch butterfly larvae.
• Subject to herbivory by milkweed beetles, including the cobalt milkweed beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus) and red-femured milkweed beetle (Tetraopes femoratus).

Additional Asclepias Species Mentioned:

• Asclepias labriformis (Utah or Labriform Milkweed): Primarily restricted to Utah.
• Asclepias welshii (Welsh's Milkweed): Native to southern Utah and northern Arizona.
• Asclepias fascicularis (Mexican Whorled Milkweed).
• Asclepias asperula var. asperula (Rough Milkweed Spider Milkweed).
• Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed).
• Asclepias incarnata (Rose Milkweed, marsh milkweed, or swamp milkweed).

Related Resources

• USDA Plants Database
• Dave's Garden
• The Xerces Society
• Utah Native Plant Society
• A Utah Flora (Welsh et al. 1993 and 2003)
• Discover Life