Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed) 6-pack

Asclepias verticillata, commonly known as Whorled Milkweed, is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to North America. It typically grows to a height of 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters) and spreads to about 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) wide. The plant has a shallow, fibrous root system and can tolerate a variety of soil types.

The leaves of the Asclepias verticillata plant are long and narrow, measuring about 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) in length and 0.1-0.2 inches (2-5 mm) in width. The leaves are arranged in whorls of 3-6 around the stem and have a slightly fuzzy texture.

Asclepias verticillata produces small, white to greenish-white flowers in clusters at the top of the stem from early summer to late summer. The flowers have a unique structure consisting of five petals and five sepals that are fused to form a distinctive hood-shaped structure called the corona. The corona contains a nectar-rich reservoir that attracts a variety of pollinators, particularly butterflies and bees.

After the flowers are pollinated, Asclepias verticillata produces elongated, spindle-shaped seed pods that can reach up to 5 inches (13 cm) long. These seed pods are filled with numerous small seeds that are attached to silky, white floss, which helps them to disperse in the wind.

Overall, Asclepias verticillata is an important plant for pollinators, particularly butterflies, which rely on it as a host plant for their eggs and as a food source for their larvae. The plant is also used in traditional medicine for various ailments, and its young shoots were historically used as a vegetable by Native American tribes.