Asclepias verticillata

Common Names

Whorled Milkweed, Eastern Whorled Milkweed, Horsetail Milkweed

Summary

Whorled Milkweed is a North American native perennial with slender, upright stems and whorls of narrow needle-like leaves arranged in groups of 3 to 6, it grows about 1–3 feet tall and bears small white to greenish-white, fragrant flowers in umbels from late spring to early fall, providing nectar for pollinators and serving as a monarch butterfly larval host. Distinctive traits include whorled leaves, a drought-tolerant rhizomatous habit that forms colonies, and a milky sap; foliage is deer- and rabbit-resistant. Thrives in full sun to light shade and dry to medium moisture on well-drained soils; hardy in USDA zones 3–9; easily grown from seed or division and spreads by rhizomes, forming colonies but not invasive; typically spaced 1–3 feet apart. It tolerates drought and is deer- and rabbit-resistant, though livestock-toxic. Suitable for pollinator gardens, meadows, prairie plantings, and rock gardens, with seed pods usable in dried arrangements.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-36 inches

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; can range to partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Dry, well-drained soil, including sandy, loamy, or rocky soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, dry to medium moisture, preferably sandy loam.

Soil pH

Acidic to circumneutral pH, no single ideal pH, tolerates a wide range (Acid, Alkaline, and Neutral)

Bloom Color

White or greenish white, sometimes with pale purplish tints toward the tips.

Bloom Time

Spring to Fall

Foliage Color

Green to yellow-green foliage with whitish-green undersides; may turn yellow to orange in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to orange

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Other

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies (including monarchs), and other pollinators