Authentic Wisconsin.  Common Milkweed - Asclepias syriaca


Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on June 29, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse in Madison, Wisconsin. (6/29/19).


Common Milkweed - Asclepias syriaca

In Wisconsin, the Common Miklweed can grow between 3 to 6 feet tall.

The flower head is a 3-4 inch cluster of individual pinkish flowers that are about 1/2 inch across with a 5-parted crown and 5 downward-curved petals that look like short, inwardly-curved horns.

The Common Milkweed fruit is a 4-5 inch long, green bumpy pod. Each pod contains numerous brown seeds that are attached to a hairy, fluffy parachute (floss) that aids in wind dispersal.

Other names: butterfly flower, silkweed.



COMMON MILK WEED
 (Asclepias syriaca)
by Scottish author, Elizabeth Gordon

Said Common Milk Weed, "When I've fed

The bees, I put my babes to bed

In silken cradles, where they sway

Rocked by the little Winds all day.


For more information on the Common Milkweed, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Common Milkweed.


Common Milkweed on shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park on June 29, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park on June 27, 2020.
Commmon Milkweed by Duck Pond on June 30, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 23, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 23, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on July 7, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 23, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 19, 2020.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on June 23, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 24, 2020.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on July 2, 2019.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on June 29, 2019.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on June 30, 2019.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on July 1, 2019.
Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse on July 1, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Retaining Pond on July 4, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on July 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on July 10, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 25, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 8, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 4, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 8, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 8, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 8, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 8, 2020.
Common Milkweed in UW Arboretum on October 13, 2020.
Common Milkweed in UW Arboretum on October 13, 2020.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 12, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 17, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 20, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 20, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 20, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 26, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 26, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 26, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 26, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 27, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 8, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Arbor House on November 10, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on November 17, 2019.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on December 21, 2019.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 15, 2021.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 15, 2021.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 15, 2021.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on June 16, 2021.
Common Milkweed in UW Arboretum near Visitors Center on June 16, 2021.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 19, 2021.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 20, 2021.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 20, 2021.
Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 19, 2021.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 29, 2022.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on September 29, 2022.
Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 15, 2022.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca


Common Milkweed by Marion Dunn Pond on October 20, 2018.

Common Milkweed by Marion Dunn Pond on October 20, 2018.


Above: Common Milkweed by Marion Dunn Pond on October 20, 2018


Common Milkweed by Lake Wingra Boat House on June 27, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2019.


Common Milkweed with Goldenrod Soldier Beetle by Lake Wingra Boat House on June 30, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed with Goldenrod Soldier Beetle by the Wingra Boathouse in Madison, Wisconsin on June 29, 2019.


Common Milkweed by Lake Wingra Boat House on June 30, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed by the Wingra Boathouse in Madison, Wisconsin on June 30, 2019.


Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on August 8, 2020.


Above: Common Milkweed with green fruit pods on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on August 8, 2020.


Common Milkweed by Lake Wingra Boat House on August 23, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed with green fruit pods by Lake Wingra Boat House in Madison, Wisconsin on August 23, 2019.


Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 2, 2020.

Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 2, 2020.


Above: Common Milkweed pods with seeds and fluff exploding on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on October 2, 2019.


Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on October 12, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed pods with seeds and fluff exploding on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on October 12, 2019.


Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on October 19, 2021.


Above: Common Milkweed pods with seeds and fluff exploding by Wingra Boats in Madison, Wisconsin on October 19, 2021.


Common Milkweed on shore of Marion Dunn Pond on November 4, 2020.


Above: Common Milkweed pods on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on November 4, 2020.


Common Milkweed by Wingra Boats on December 21, 2019.


Above: Common Milkweed pods with seeds and fluff exploding by Wingra Boats in Madison, Wisconsin on December 21, 2019.


Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.

Above: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.


1969 Common Milkweed illustration.


Above: 1969 Common Milkweed illustration USDA FS.



1918 Common Milkweed Wild Flower Children by Elizabeth Gordon with illustration by Janet Laura Scott.

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