Asclepias speciosa

(Showy Milkweed)

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Asclepias speciosa, Northeast of La Junta, Bent Co. 9851

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Asclepias speciosa, North of Paonia, Delta Co. 2829

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Asclepias speciosa, North of Paonia, Delta Co. 2819

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Asclepias speciosa, Newcastle-Buford Rd., Garfield Co. 6245

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Asclepias speciosa, Newcastle-Buford Rd., Garfield Co. 6229

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Stem Leaves, Asclepias speciosa, North of Paonia, Delta Co. 2861

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Asclepias speciosa, Newcastle-Buford Rd., Garfield Co. 6247

Scientific Name Asclepias speciosa USDA PLANTS Symbol ASSP
Common Name Showy Milkweed ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 30304
Family Apocynaceae (Dogbane) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (3400 to 8400 ft); moist soils of prairies, roadsides, waste areas, lake margins.
Plant: Erect perennial, 16 to 48 inches tall; slightly to densely hairy stems with milky sap.
Leaves: Stem leaves opposite, petiolate, oblong-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 4 to 8 inches long and up to 4 inches across; with transverse veins.
Inflorescence: Several umbels on peduncles 1 to 3 inches long; 5 greenish sepals often hidden beneath pink to purplish-red petals that are about 1/2-inch long; 5 pale pink to white hoods spreading in a star pattern, each 1/3 to 1/2-inch long; white, sickle-shaped horns, shorter than hoods, arching over anther head. See Orbis Environmental Consulting's website for a discussion of milkweed flower morphology.
Bloom Period: June to August.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Burke Museum-Washington University and Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses.
BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains