Asclepias lanceolata aka Fewflower Milkweed

Asclepias lanceolata, or few-flower milkweed, is an upright perennial. It belongs to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. Its native range follows the coastal plain of the eastern United States. It runs from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Texas. Wild plants grow in savannas, wet pine woods, and damp ditches. They also grow in fresh and brackish marshes near the coast.

Plants reach 3–5 feet [0.91–1.52 metres] tall. Their spread reaches about 1 foot [0.30 metres]. Growth proceeds at a medium rate. The thin, smooth stems range from green to purple. Long, narrow leaves grow in opposite pairs, with wide gaps between pairs. Each green leaf has a smooth edge and pointed, lance-like shape. The leaves lack hairs and fall at the season’s end. The slim form can blend into nearby plants before flowering.

Flowers bring bright color from June to August. Each stem tip bears one to three umbels. An umbel holds five to twelve small flowers. Orange-yellow parts contrast with the red corolla. Each bloom measures less than an inch across. The fruit is a thin, dry follicle that turns cream or tan. It holds many seeds, each with a tuft of hairs. Wind carries the seeds away when the fruit opens.

Choose full sun, though plants also accept some shade. Moist to wet, sandy soil suits this wetland species. It can grow in soil with few nutrients. North Carolina State Extension lists USDA hardiness zones 5–11. The plant needs little routine care where conditions suit it. Use it in bog gardens or wet ground beside ponds and streams. It also fits rain gardens and areas left to grow naturally. Bees and other pollinators visit the flowers for nectar. Monarch, queen, and soldier butterfly larvae feed on this host plant.

No major disease problems are reported by North Carolina State Extension. Aphids, milkweed beetles, and several leaf-eating larvae seldom cause serious trouble. Large and small milkweed bugs can badly damage seed pods. This milkweed is poisonous to people and poses risks to pets. Eating large amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion. Its milky sap can inflame skin and irritate eyes. Do not treat its flowers, leaves, or pods as food. Published food uses supplied here concern another species, not this one.