Asclepias viridiflora

Pale green flowers and highly variable leaves varying from 3-10 cm long and 1.5-4.5 cm wide, often sessile, hoods appressed to the anther and the corona is only 2-3 cm in diameter.

Requires full sun, although it will tolerate some shade. It is easily propagated by seed, and the seed requires no treatment. The pods split 4-6 weeks after flowering, and the seeds should be kept in the pod until ripe. Fresh seed may be sown immediately. The germination of stored seed improves with cold/moist stratification (Steffen 1997). The recommended planting rate is 25 lbs/acre. Blooms in 1-2 years from seed. Stem cuttings can be taken during the growing season, dipped in rooting harmone, and rooted in sand or potting soil.

Larval host plant of monarch butterflies. Charles Robertson, 1928: (Insects suck nectar; pollinia presence is unspecified; one observation is from Betz as indicated below, otherwise the observations are from Robertson) Bees (long-tongued) Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus, Bombus griseocallis (Rb, Btz) fq; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Anthedonia compta Wasps Sphecidae (Larrinae): Tachytes aurulenta; Vespidae (Eumenidae): Euodynerus annulatus np

All milkweeds are called "herb 'a houatte" by Acadians and is thought to be a variation of "ouate" or "cotton wool". This name may refer to the use of its seed silk as down (Holmes 1990).

Glades, prairies, plains, roadsides, and abandoned fields.