Pictured above:Velvetleaf milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa) by Emily Bell. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.
Velvetleaf milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa) is a robust wildflower found in sandy upland habitats across the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Like many of Florida’s milkweeds, it is winter dormant, emerging in spring and blooming through the summer.
Stiff pubescent stems grow relatively straight and upwards. They are adorned with oppositely arranged ovateundulate leaves. The common name Velvetleaf refers to the texture of the leaves, which are densely covered in hairs. Pale green flowers are born in terminalumbels. The individual flowers have reflexedcorollas and an upright corona.
Photo by Emily Bell
Photo by Emily Bell
The genus Asclepias is named for Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. The species epithet tomentosa comes from the Latin tomentum meaning “covered with dense, short hairs,” and refers to the texture of the plant’s leaves.
Like all members of the Asclepias genus, Velvetleaf 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. Learn more about Monarchs and Milkweed in Florida here.
Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) Native range: From Liberty county east and throughout the peninsula but absent from southeast Florida. To see where natural populations of Velvetleaf milkweed have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu. Lifespan: Perennial Soil: Sand Exposure: Full sun Growth habit: Up to 3 feet
Velvetleaf milkweed is not commercially available. Visit a natural area to see it.
Clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) is a late spring- through summer- blooming milkweed that occurs in dry sandy areas from sandhills to pine savannahs, open woodlands and fallow fields.
Florida milkweed (Asclepias feayi) is a dainty endemic at home in the sandhills and scrubby flatwoods of Central and South Florida. It emerges from winter dormancy in spring and typically blooms mid-summer.
Fewflower milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) is a delicate wildflower found in swamps and moist to wet pinelands and prairies throughout Florida. Its stunning orange flowers typically bloom late spring through fall.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis) blooms in late spring through early fall and attracts many pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ) has showy pink flowers that typically bloom in summer and attract many pollinators. It occurs naturally in floodplain swamps, hydric hammocks, wet pine flatwoods and marshes.
With its diminutive stature and greenish-yellow flowers, Savannah milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata) is oft overlooked in its native pineland and prairie habitats. It blooms late spring through fall, peaking in summer.
Green antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower found in pinelands, pine rocklands and disturbed areas in a few Florida counties. It flowers winter through summer, with peak blooms in spring.
Longleaf milkweed (Asclepias longifolia ) is a deciduous perennial wildflower that occurs naturally in bogs, moist to wet flatwoods and prairies. It typically blooms in spring but may bloom well into summer or early fall.
Pinewoods milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) occurs naturally in sandhills, scrub and dry, ruderal areas. It blooms in spring and summer, attracting many pollinators including wasps and butterflies.
Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata ) is one of the smaller, more delicate native milkweeds and is easily overlooked when not in bloom. It flowers late spring through summer and into early fall.
Largeflower milkweed (Asclepias connivens ) is a perennial wildflower found throughout much of Florida. Its conspicuous flowers appear in late spring through summer in moist pine flatwoods, savannahs and bogs.
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial that produces large, showy clusters of bright orange to reddish flowers from spring through fall. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, and other sandy uplands.
