Common Milkweed

(Asclepias syriaca) A native to North America, Common Milkweed is a perennial, blooms from May to August. Blooms vary from rose to purple. An excellent source for monarch larva. Grows 2-5′ tall.Did you know that late in World War II, the common milkweed was often the only thing that kept a downed aviator or soaking-wet sailor from slipping beneath the waves? The plant’s floss was used as the all-important filler for flotation devices.The northwest part of the Lower Peninsula (Michigan), particularly the area around Petoskey, became the country’s picking and processing center for milkweed floss. By the time the war ended, an army of citizens—including schoolchildren—led by a visionary doctor had helped keep America’s servicemen safe from harm.