Asclepias amplexicaulis

Common Names

Clasping Milkweed, Sand Milkweed, Blunt-Leaved Milkweed, Bluntleaf Milkweed

Summary

Asclepias amplexicaulis, commonly known as clasping milkweed, is a native perennial herb of the eastern United States. It grows about 2–3 feet tall with upright, usually unbranched stems and opposite clasping leaves with undulate margins. A single terminal umbel of 15–80 greenish-purple flowers (pink-tinged, sometimes with a clove-like fragrance) rises above milky sap, and fruits are 9–16 cm long pods. It favors dry, sandy habitats such as prairies, savannas, and open woods. For cultivation and uses, it tolerates full sun to partial shade and well-drained sandy or loamy soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH and is drought-tolerant once established; propagation can be from seeds or root cuttings in spring. It serves as a monarch butterfly larval host plant and provides nectar for bees and butterflies in meadow, native, and pollinator garden plantings. Hardy in zones 3–9.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; may be in Partial Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Dry, well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably sandy soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators