Pollinator plant

common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

40 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (26)
Dutch
French
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 叙利亚马利筋[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 普通馬利筋[3]
Czech
  • klejicha hedvábná[3]
Danish
  • Kæmpe-Silkeplante[3]
Estonian
  • siidaskleepias[3]
Finnish
  • mesisilkkiyrtti[3]
German
Hungarian
  • közönséges selyemkóró[3]
  • Selyemkóró[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • オオトウワタ[3]
Lithuanian
  • Sirinis klemalis[3]
Miami
Ojibwe
  • zhaabozigan[3]
  • Zhaabozigan (Ninwish, Cabo'sîkûn)[3]
Polish
  • Trojeść amerykańska[3]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Ceara albinei[3]
Russian
  • Ваточник сирийский[3]
Serbian
  • Cigansko perje[3]
  • Циганско перје[3]
Slovak
  • Glejovka americká[3]
Slovenian
  • sirska svilnica[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Ваточник сирійський[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Asclepias syriaca — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Common Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias syriaca.
[2] Asclepias syriaca — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common milkweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Gewöhnliche Seidenpflanze — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Kanadische Seidenpflanze — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Papageienpflanze — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • butterfly flower — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • common Midwest milkweed — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • silkweed — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • silky swallow-wort — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Virginia silkweed — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • algodoncillo común — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • asclépiade commune — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • asclépiade de Syrie — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • herbe aux perruches — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • herbe à la ouate — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Pianta dei pappagalli — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • zijdeplant — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • algodão-bravo — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
[3] Asclepias syriaca — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common milkweed — results[5].names[1]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Gewöhnliche Seidenpflanze — results[5].names[8]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Kanadische Seidenpflanze — results[5].names[9]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Papageienpflanze — results[5].names[18]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • butterfly flower — results[5].names[33]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • common Midwest milkweed — results[5].names[29]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • silkweed — results[5].names[34]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • silky swallow-wort — results[5].names[35]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Virginia silkweed — results[5].names[36]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • algodoncillo común — results[5].names[3]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • asclépiade commune — results[5].names[4]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • asclépiade de Syrie — results[5].names[5]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • herbe aux perruches — results[5].names[7]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • herbe à la ouate — results[5].names[6]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Pianta dei pappagalli — results[5].names[39]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • zijdeplant — results[5].names[13]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • algodão-bravo — results[5].names[10]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • zhaabozigan — results[5].names[11]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • klejicha hedvábná — results[5].names[12]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • siidaskleepias — results[5].names[14]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Ваточник сирійський — results[5].names[15]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Ваточник сирийский — results[5].names[16]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • mesisilkkiyrtti — results[5].names[17]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Sirinis klemalis — results[5].names[19]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Zhaabozigan (Ninwish, Cabo'sîkûn) — results[5].names[20]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • sidenört — results[5].names[21]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • オオトウワタ — results[5].names[22]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Trojeść amerykańska — results[5].names[23]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • közönséges selyemkóró — results[5].names[24]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • 普通馬利筋 — results[5].names[25]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Selyemkóró — results[5].names[26]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • 叙利亚马利筋 — results[5].names[27]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Циганско перје — results[5].names[28]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Kæmpe-Silkeplante — results[5].names[30]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • ipek otu — results[5].names[31]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • sirska svilnica — results[5].names[32]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • leninši — results[5].names[37]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Ceara albinei — results[5].names[38]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Cigansko perje — results[5].names[40]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
  • Glejovka americká — results[5].names[41]; taxon id 47911; Asclepias syriaca.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Apocynaceae

Genus-level classification for Asclepias; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Asclepias syriaca.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.2–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
C. & E. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Asclepias — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 37484; ID 33PC; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Asclepias syriaca — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Asclepias syriaca — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 445312; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 692355, 692356, 692357, 692359, 692360, 692361, 692362, 692363, 692365, 692366, 692367, 692368, 692369, 692370, 692371, 692372, 692373, 692374, 692375, 692376, 692377, 692378, 692379, 692380, 692381, 692382, 692383, 692384, 692385, 692386, 692387, 692389, 692390, 692392, 692394, 692396, 692398, 692399, 692400

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.