Fewflower milkweed, Asclepias lanceolata

Fewflower milkweed

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Pictured above: Fewflower milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) by Eleanor Dietrich. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

Fewflower milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) is a delicate perennial wildflower found in swamps and moist to wet pinelands and prairies throughout Florida. Its stunning orange to red flowers typically bloom late spring through fall. Like all members of the Asclepias genus, Fewflower milkweed is a larval host plant for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies. The plant contains a milky latex that is toxic to most animals, but Monarch, Queen and Soldier caterpillars are adapted to feed on them despite the chemical defense. The flowers are an important nectar source for bees and wasps.

Flowers are born in terminal umbels. Each flower bears a five-lobed calyx and five-lobed corolla. Corolla lobes are reflexed. Often mistaken for petals are five hoods (or petaloid appendages) that form an upright corona — a characteristic typical of milkweed flowers. Leaves are long (4–8 inches), linear to lanceolate, with short petioles. They are oppositely arranged. Stems are slender and smooth. Seeds are born in erect follicles that dry and split open as the fruit matures. Each seed is attached to a white silky pappus that catches the wind and aids in dispersal.

Fewflower milkweed, Asclepias lanceolata
Photo by Eleanor Dietrich

The genus Asclepias is named for Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. The species epithet lanceolata refers to the lanceolate or lance-shaped leaves.

Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)
Native range: Nearly throughout
To see where natural populations of Fewflower milkweed have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Hardiness: Zones 8A–10B
Lifespan: Perennial
Soil: Moist to wet sandy or calcareous soils
Exposure: Full sun to minimal shade
Growth habit: 2–3’+ tall
Propagation: Seed
Garden tips: Fewflower milkweed is best suited for moist to wet landscapes that are seasonally inundated.

Plants are occasionally available from nurseries that specialize in Florida native plants. Visit www.plantrealflorida.org to find a nursery in your area.

For more information on other Asclepias species, see these resources: