Identifying Milkweed Seedpods

Milkweed Seedpods Come in all Shapes and Sizes

Poke Milkweed - November 1, 2013

  At nodding Onion Gardens we propagate seven different milkweed species, several of which are currently not in production. At different stages of development it is easy to confuse one species from another. Identifying milkweed based on their pods shape is a simple method of learning how to recognize one family member from another.

  The only draw back to this strategy is; like flower color it requires one to wait patiently until the flower blooms or a pod forms. It is not the most efficient means of identification; never the less it is fun and entertaining.

 

 

 

Poke Milkweed: Course, Slender with Numerous Ridges

 

 

Poke Milkweed - Still not ready

  The first of our milkweed plants to flower in the spring is Poke Milkweed, Asclepias exaltata. Surprisingly, harvesting the bounty from this milkweed tends to be late October early November. I would describe this pod as course, slender with numerous ridges.

  This lovely milkweed thrives in an area shaded by both pine and deciduous trees. It has a very usual flower that will be the topic of a future blog post. Like most milkweeds Asclepias exaltata tends to flower in their second season.

 

 

 

 

 

Swamp Milkweed: Sleek, Bountiful and a Sprinter! 

Swamp Milkweed Taking off!

  Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata strikes me as a plant on a mission, maybe a sprinter. It flowers early June and by the beginning of September the majority of the capsules have been "launched ". Everyone seems to leave home at once. No dilly-dallying!

  Swamp Milkweed or Rose Milkweed as it is sometimes referred have thin, smooth pods that tend to grow in clusters. Once you have one flowering Swamp Milkweed you will have a surplus of seeds for friends and neighbors.

 

 

 

 

Purple Milkweed: Plump, Smooth and Silky

 

Purple milkweed Bouquet

 

Purple Milkweed - Close up

   As seedlings, Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens, Common and Poke resemble one another. I have decide not to propagate Common milkweed, one to save space and two to reduce potential mix-ups. Purple Milkweed's magenta colored flowers combined with a root system which wanders less than Common Milkweed makes this a better fit for our suburban farmers market costumers.

Common Milkweed: Husky, Bumpy and Noticeable

Common Milkweed close up

   It is impossible to mix Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca seedpods up with other milkweed pods. If I were to assign a profession to this fellow, it would be an Olympic weight lifer: husky, strong and noticeable. I wouldn't want to describe a weight lifter as bumpy that is unless he hadn't used a razor in a while.

  The leaves of Asclepias syriaca and Asclepias purpurascens, are very similar; I have been practicing identifying them while closing my eyes and attempting to decide which is which. I can't say that method is very scientific or effective.
 
  We are beginning the month of November here in Ohio, USA and to-date I am seeing no signs that these fellows are ready to throw in the towel.

I am pretty sure the small seed in the above picture is a hitch hiking New York Ironweed.

Butterfly Weed: Thin, Soft and Pointy 

Butterfly Weed - October 29, 2013

  Like Poke and Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, pods are thin and straight. Butterfly Weed pods are very soft and tend to be shorter and thinner than Poke.

  Butterfly Weed flowers late August through early through September. They play the role of the "after dinner" snack for fall dinning insects and pollinators.

  Seedpods have been trickling in for the last month now. This picture was taken two days and ago and looks nowhere near ready to harvest.

Whorled Milkweed: Pint-sized, Late Bloomer Possibly a Wallflower

Whorled - October 12, 2013

  Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias verticillata is one of the milkweed plants that I am still experimenting with. On the other hand My father Roger Dahlin from Penniville, New York has had tremendous success propagating it.

  As a matter of fact the picture of the Whorled Milkweed to the left is my father's prized plant. He insisted we transplant it in to my Ohio gardens, as there is a strong possibilty that his senior garden will be moved in order to make room for new homes.



 This member of the Asclepias family is an extremely late bloomer, flowering in Bladwinsville early September. The greenish white flower can't compete with the colors of the Purple or Butterfly Weed Flowers, it could easily become lost in the 'back of the room". Just the same this delicate plant completes our goal of providing a continuous season of blooming milkweeds.



If you are interested in learning more about these milkweed plants you are welcome to visit our website.

Butterfly Weed
Common Milkweed 
Poke Milkweed
Purple Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed