Asclepias Species, Poke Milkweed, Tall Milkweed

Asclepiasexaltata

Family
Apocynaceae (a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Asclepias (ass-KLE-pee-us)
Species
exaltata (eks-all-TAY-tuh)
Synonym
Asclepias bicknellii
Asclepias nivea
Asclepias phytolaccoides
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Pale Green
Lavender
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Saint Helen, Michigan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Arlington, Texas

Leesburg, Virginia

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Gardener's Notes:

1
positive
1
neutral
0
negative
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A
Greensboro, NC (Zone 7b) | October 2011 | neutral

I note that the DG plantfile says light requirements are full sun, but the plant does in fact prefer morning sun and afternoon shade.
...Read More

M
Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | February 2008 | positive

Unusual among the milkweeds into that it prefers partial shade to woodland shade. I have seem small patches of it along the St. Croix riv...Read More

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