Poke Milkweed is our only milkweed that grows in the forest. It can also grow to over 5’ tall! It tends to be found in drier forests rather than beech-maple forests.
Asclepias species host quite a number of insect species including the monarch butterfly. I have never seen a monarch caterpillar on poke milkweed, but that doesn’t mean they don’t use the plant. Would love to hear others’ experience with this. The Great Spangled Fritillary, that also lives in the woods, loves the nectar of milkweeds. A number of beetles eat the foliage.
Deer tend to avoid this plant due to its toxicity, but if you have ground hogs, like I do, consider protecting your plants I had a barrier up the past two years and got some nice blooms.
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Poke Milkweed
Height: 3-5’
Bloom time: May-June
Soil: loam, sandy-loam with organic matter
Sun: dappled light to shade
Plant spacing: 2-3”
Flower: white
Life cycle: perennial
Family: Apocynaceae
Seed source: Michigan
Sizes:
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Poke Milkweed is our only milkweed that grows in the forest. It can also grow to over 5’ tall! It tends to be found in drier forests rather than beech-maple forests.
Asclepias species host quite a number of insect species including the monarch butterfly. I have never seen a monarch caterpillar on poke milkweed, but that doesn’t mean they don’t use the plant. Would love to hear others’ experience with this. The Great Spangled Fritillary, that also lives in the woods, loves the nectar of milkweeds. A number of beetles eat the foliage.
Deer tend to avoid this plant due to its toxicity, but if you have ground hogs, like I do, consider protecting your plants I had a barrier up the past two years and got some nice blooms.
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