Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Linnaeus    
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Gentianales   >   Family Apocynaceae   >   Genus Asclepias   

Status:

Found in open field habitats and along roadsides. Blooming typically occurs by the middle of June and lasts through July.

Where to find:

Common across the state. Look on the edges of open roadsides.

Relationships:

Critically important larval host plant for Monarchs and many other species: Large Milkweed Bug, Small Milkweed Bug, Red Milkweed Beetle, Milkweed Tussock Moth, Oleander Aphid (non-native), Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle.

There are 1,035 records in the project database.

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Common Milkweed in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/12/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed blooming in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/14/2014). Photo by Max Wilson. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/30/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed with white flowers in Dorchester Co., Maryland (6/25/2013). Photo by Jonathan Willey. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed blooming in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/19/2016). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed, new shoots with leaves unrolling in Spring, in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/23/2017). Photo by Bill Hill. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2009). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/9/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (9/4/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed seeds in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/8/2018). Photo by Robert Warren. (MBP list)

A Common Milkweed seed pod in Frederick Co., Maryland (12/3/2017). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Common Milkweed (seed pod and seeds) in Howard Co., Maryland (10/26/2012). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed (seed pods and seeds) in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/13/2015). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (9/19/2017). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/12/2020). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/13/2015). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/13/2019). (c) jtbrown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jtbrown via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Harford Co., Maryland (6/9/2019). (c) kittyminder, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by kittyminder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (6/28/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/21/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/22/2018). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Talbot Co., Maryland (7/10/2022). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Talbot Co., Maryland (7/10/2022). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A close-up of Common Milkweed blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/28/2015). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/12/2009). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/11/2018). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/22/2016). (c) Mark Eanes, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Mark Eanes. (MBP list)

Common Milkweed hosts an American Goldfinch in Howard Co., Maryland (9/29/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Pollinia of Common Milkweed cling to the hind foot of Melissodes trinodis in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/9/2014). Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)


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