Green Antelopehorn, Green Milkweed, Spider Milkweed
Phonetic Spelling
as-KLEE-pee-as VEER-ih-diss
Description
Asclepias viridis is a US prairie native (Ohio south to Florida and west to Texas), that makes a superb garden perennial. For us, green antelope horn milkweed forms a 2' tall x 2' wide clumping specimen with thick outward leaning stalks. The terminal flower heads start for us in early May with a cluster of green buds that open to reveal green petals that hold the symmetrically arranged purple stamens. Asclepias viridis is very similar to Asclepias asperula, but with wider foliage. Average to dry soils are preferred. Asclepias viridis is a favorite of bees and monarch butterflies, but thankfully, not deer.
Best in naturalized areas, meadow, prairie or drought-tolerant plantings; also consider green antelopehorn for butterfly, pollinator gardens, or in a border if there isn't too much competition from other plants.
Family
Apocynaceae
Native Range
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK , SC, TN, TX, WV
Hardiness Zone(s)
4a --to-- 9b
Lifespan
Herbaceous, Perennial
Habitats
It is found in calcareous hammocks, dry woodlands, pine rocklands, and prairies.
Exposure
Full Sun
Growth Habit
Low Spreading
Soil Texture
Organic (Humus), Loam (Sand/Silt/Clay), Deep Sand, Well Drained
Propagation
--Seeds
Moisture
Not wet but not extremely dry --to-- Somewhat long very dry periods
Salt Water Tolerance
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray Tolerance
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray.
