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green milkweed

green milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)
Photo © Christopher David Benda

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
Green milkweed grows up to two feet in height. The leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stem. Seedpods are up to six inches in length. Flowers are positioned on the leaf axils and are green in color.

BEHAVIORS
Green milkweed flowers May through August. It can be found statewide. Green milkweed can be found in prairies, sandy soil, gravelly soil and fields. The leaves are often folded up and in along their edge with a wavy margin. The flower clusters nod.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae

Illinois Status: common, native