Asclepias exaltata (Poke Milkweed)
| Also known as: | Tall Milkweed |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Asclepias |
| Family: | Apocynaceae (Dogbane) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; moist woods |
| Bloom season: | June - August |
| Plant height: | 3 to 5 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FAC MW: UPL NCNE: UPL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/asclepias-exaltata-08767-2.jpg)
Flowers are in open droopy clusters at the end of naked stalks that arise from leaf axils in the upper part of the plant. Flowers are about 3/8 inch across and ½ inch long, have a 5-parted crown, with a horn sticking out of each of the 5 cylindrical hoods, a short column tucked in the center, and 5 flaring petals that bend back away from the flower. Crown color is creamy white to greenish or purplish, with light green petals. One plant usually has a few to several clusters.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/poke-milkweed-100_8985.jpg)
Leaves are large and broad, to 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, roughly oval to egg-shaped, tapering to a point at both ends on a stalk ¼ to 1 inch long. Leaf edges may be slightly wavy, but are otherwise smooth. Attachment is opposite. The main stem is smooth and light green to purplish.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/asclepias-exaltata-16-2.jpg)
Fruit is a spindle-shaped pod 4 to 6 inches long, covered in downy hairs. Inside are flat brown seeds with a tuft of long white hair to carry them off in the wind.
Notes:
All Asclepias were formerly in family Asclepiadaceae but have been reassigned to Apocynaceae (Dogbane). Poke Milkweed is the most shade-tolerant of the Asclepias in Minnesota. Monarchs love it, as do rabbits. When I grew it at my former home in Lino Lakes, it was so loaded with Monarch larva I had to move some to other plants for fear they would completely decimate it!
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More photos
Poke Milkweed plants
more Poke Milkweed plants
garden grown Poke MilkweedPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Chisago County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken at William O'Brien State Park, Washington County, and in a private garden in Anoka County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2012-06-01 08:15:23
I found a stand of these growing in an undisturbed woodland in deep shade in my backyard.
on: 2015-05-29 01:20:04
I've seen a small group of them where the Discovery and Lakeshore trails meet (SW a few feet). Lots of cuttings/brush there so will check for them this summer.
on: 2015-07-17 15:19:21
We have a large patch of them at the end of our woods in McGregor. Last Fall we harvested seeds and propagated them... Now planting them in edge of woods in Duluth as well as roadside. Plants are still small, but Monarchs seem to prefer the Swamp Milkweed we also planted.
on: 2018-05-08 01:52:08
These are in the shady woods near the nature center. Beautiful! I was surprised to learn this was a milkweed since it is so shade tolerant.
on: 2018-06-16 19:57:16
Discovered during BioBlitz in Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA
on: 2018-09-30 21:00:44
Found 30 plus plants growing in a Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Blue Beech (Carpinus caroliniana), White Oak (Quercus alba) uncommon in this area, Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum), forest, companion plants round lobed hepatica (Anemone americana), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var. palmatus), Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), maiden hair fern (Adiantum pedatum), Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense).
on: 2019-07-14 09:32:05
Shady edge of the south side of the sidewalk near the south west corner of Cliff and JohnnyCake, surrounded by buckthorn
on: 2020-06-23 16:09:25
Saw this for the first time this year on June 20 in the oak woodland section of Battle Creek right along the trail. What a beautiful surprise.
on: 2020-06-27 12:58:35
Saw many non flowering plants and two plants that were in bloom on a shady bluff by the Saint Croix River in Afton State Park.
on: 2020-11-03 09:49:14
Found twenty five plants in southeastern Houston County. Harvested and replanted thirteen pods.
on: 2021-07-02 10:05:55
We found it around our lawn/woods edge. Very heavily populated with larvae before common milkweed was very tall. Larvae preferred blossoms. So many we had to re-locate because the plants were getting stripped. So many we will not get seed pods from many plants. Nine on one stem! Most had multiple larvae. Not so for Common. I would estimate 10:1 on Poke compared with Common. We will concentrate on spreading Poke all over our 118 acres along trails and edges. It does well on woodland logging trails, and we found larvae there too. Sorry, but Our County is just like MN counties, like Crow Wing. I see similar results from MN. Worth spreading this information.
on: 2022-06-22 18:00:49
Found a thin patch of this in deep woods in Chester Woods Park.
on: 2022-07-02 13:14:15
Surprised to find an unfamiliar milkweed in my own backyard about 5 years ago. They are beginning to bloom. About 6 plants return each year along a decomposing log near a Basswood tree. Have only observed ants foraging for the flower's nectar. Unfortunately, no monarch larva seen on these.
on: 2023-06-11 13:34:18
On path to overlook.
on: 2024-07-01 04:15:04
Hello, My daughter and I along with my 2 grandkids recently (June 2024) explored and enjoyed the Floating Bog boardwalk near Eloise Butler Wildflower and Bird Sanctuary. We noticed several healthy stands of Asclepias exaltata growing along the more upland section of trail as we approached the parking area. My daughter will be teaching outdoors w preschoolers this fall and this area is of interest to her.
on: 2024-07-23 15:56:11
Several years ago we took a corner area with an ornamental tree and nothing else but weeds. The area is about 2/3 part-shade and one section full to part sun. We planted 5 tiny Poke Milkweed plants in the shady area. and all survived and are doing well. We now have 8 plants and are planning to put in some companion plants this spring to showcase them. They are on the north side of the Greenway, adjacent to the gated entry to Greenway Gables (townhouse complex) and across from the playground.