Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias verticillata

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Whorled milkweed grows one to two feet tall and six inches to one foot across. Do not be fooled by such small dimensions. This milkweed may be small in stature. However, it aggressively spreads by rhizomes. The rhizomes on Whorled Milkweed, Asc. verticillata grow horizontally underground. Above ground, multiple stems will grow.                                                                                                                     Whorled milkweed will do best in an area that will allow an aggressive informal growth pattern. It is not a good choice for a more formalized or smaller flower bed. The benefit of the aggressive growth is that in time, it offers a large food source for pollinators and monarch caterpillars. 

Care must be taken with Asclepias verticillata,  Whorled Milkweed.  It is the most toxic of the milkweeds and use around cattle must be avoided.  

 Larval host to the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) and soldier butterfly, (Danaus eresimus). Despite its name, this is not the preferred larval host of the monarch.