Purple Milkweed – Asclpeias Purpurascens

Earlier this year I made a couple of trips to Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia. Huntley Meadows is a 1500 acre park of woods and wetlands surrounded by the DC suburbs. It’s a wonderful spot to get away for a quick break in the natural world.

On my visit in June I photographed a new to me member of the milkweed family – Purple Milkweed (Asclpeias purpurascens). This was the first time I’d seen milkweed in a color this bright. I absolutely love it and would love to add some to my garden next year.

Purple Milkweed is a member of the Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) family. It is native to much of the eastern United States – except for Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vermont. It is listed as endangered or of special concern in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Wisconsin. In Rhode Island – it is listed as a historical plant.

Purple Milkweed is a perennial plant that grows as high as 5 feet tall. The ones I photographed were between 4 and 5 feet tall. The flowers of the purple milkweed form in round clusters – opening up in an incredible shade of purple. The five part flowers are under an inch tall.

Purple Milkweed can be a great addition to a native plant garden. It prefers to grow in full sun. It is tolerant to deer, droughts, erosion, dry or rocky soil.

Like many native plants certain pollinators love purple milkweed. It is known to attract monarch butterflies, milkweed beetles, and milkweed bugs

Various members of the milkweed family have been used as traditional remedies for a number of conditions. The only specific use for Purple Milkweed I found was as a rememdy for warts.