Asclepias purpurascens
Encyclopedia
Purple milkweed is a herbaceous plant species. It is in the genus Asclepias
, making it a type of milkweed. It is native to the Eastern
, Southern
and Midwestern
United States
similar to the range of the Common Milkweed
(Asclepias syriaca). The plant gets its name from the flowers that first develop a pink color but then turn darker purple as they mature.
s live off the plant, including the Monarch Butterfly
(Danaus plexippus), the Milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetraophtalmus), Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) and Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis). Other insects and pollinators feed off the flower's nectar.
This species is sometimes cultivated in gardens designed to attract butterflies, but it less common than the light purple Swamp milkweed
(Asclepias incarnata) or the orange Butterfly weed
(Asclepias tuberosa). The nectar of the plant attracts many other species of butterflies and insects as well.
Asclepias
Asclepias L. , the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species...
, making it a type of milkweed. It is native to the Eastern
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
, Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
similar to the range of the Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca, commonly called Common Milkweed, Butterfly flower, Silkweed, Silky Swallow-wort, Virginia Silkweed, is a herbaceous plant species. It is in the genus Asclepias, making it a type of milkweed. This species is native to most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding...
(Asclepias syriaca). The plant gets its name from the flowers that first develop a pink color but then turn darker purple as they mature.
Uses
Like other members of the milkweeds, several insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s live off the plant, including the Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterfly
The Monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly , in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Since the 19th century, it has been found in New Zealand, and in Australia since 1871 where it is called the Wanderer...
(Danaus plexippus), the Milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetraophtalmus), Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii) and Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis). Other insects and pollinators feed off the flower's nectar.
This species is sometimes cultivated in gardens designed to attract butterflies, but it less common than the light purple Swamp milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata is a herbaceous, perennial plant species native to North America...
(Asclepias incarnata) or the orange Butterfly weed
Butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early fall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 5–12 cm long and 2–3 cm broad.This plant favors...
(Asclepias tuberosa). The nectar of the plant attracts many other species of butterflies and insects as well.