SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 4660.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "4660" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Texas milkweed

Scientific Name: Asclepias texana

Family: Asclepiadaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Milkweed (Asclepias)

Milkweed, belonging to the genus Asclepias (Family Apocynaceae, formerly Asclepiadaceae), is a vital plant with over 100 species in the Americas, with more than 30 native to Texas. It is well-known as the host plant for monarch caterpillars, and conservation efforts are focused on increasing its availability.

Considerations for Pets

  • Milkweed is named for its milky sap, a latex containing alkaloids.

Common Names

  • Milkweed
  • Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Texas Milkweed (Asclepias texana)
  • Tropical Milkweed, Bloodflower, Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
  • Antelope Horn Milkweed
  • Wand Milkweed

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Genus: Asclepias
  • Family: Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Americas, with a high concentration of species in Texas.
  • Specific locations mentioned include: Texas (East Texas, Edwards Plateau, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, South and West Texas), Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, U.S. Gulf Coast, central Mexico.
  • Specific habitats mentioned include Oak Motts, Hillsides, Dry Fields, and Sandy Loam.

Ecological Role

  • Crucial host plant for monarch caterpillars; female monarchs lay eggs on milkweed, and caterpillars hatch and feed on the plant.
  • Loss of milkweed in breeding areas impacts monarch butterfly populations.
  • Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) planted in warm environments like southern Texas may not die back in winter, potentially harboring spores dangerous to monarchs in some regions (south of San Antonio).

Morphological Characteristics

  • Broad-leafed milkweed is noted for its robust nature and leaf size.
  • Perennial species exist.
  • Some milkweeds are vines (Pearl Milkweed Vine, Purple Milkweed Vine).

Quirky Facts

  • George Cates, chief seed wrangler at Native American Seed Co., noted that "These milkweeds have a mind of their own."

Further Information

  • Encyclopaedia Britannica (online encyclopedia)
  • Native American Seed Co.
  • Monarch Watch