Swamp Milkweed

(Asclepias incarnata)

Other Names:
Rose milkweed, White Indian hemp

Range:


Family:
Asclepiadaceae – Milkweed family

Growth Type:
Herbaceous perennial

Height:
Growing 3' - 5' tall

Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, simple broad ovate-lanceolate, 2"-10" long and 1" -5" wide, usually with an undulate margin and a red-colored main vein. They have a very short petiole and a velvety underside.

Stem/Trunk:
The thick stem is un-branched, and all parts of the plant produce a white latex liquid when broken. Under magnification, the stem of milkweed is hairy. This will help you differentiate milkweed from it's poisonous look-alike Dogbane Apocynum L. When mature, the stem of Dogbane often branches, while that of Milkweed does not.

Root:
Spreading Rhizome

Flower Season:
Spring to early summer

Flower Appearance:
The flower heads look somewhat like loose heads of broccoli. The flowers are grouped in several spherical umbels with numerous flowers in each umbel. The individual flowers are small, ¼" - ¾" diameter, perfumed, with five cornate hoods.

Seed/Fruit:
The seeds are attached to long, white flossy hairs and encased in large seed pods.

Habitat:
Milkweed grows in disturbed waste areas, along roadsides, in overgrown fields

Miscellaneous characteristics:
When young, Dogbane, Apocynum L., can be mistaken for Milkweed. However as Dogbane matures, the stems typically branch while Milkweed does not. The stems of Dogbane are also free of hairs.

Parts Used:
Wild Food: Young leaves, shoots, flower buds, and immature fruit
Bushcraft: Stems, mature seed fluff

Culinary Uses:
Use young shoots in mid-spring, and the tender tops of older plants later on. The unopened flower bud is also very tasty. the unopened flower buds can be parboiled for a minute, then dipped in batter and fried like a fritter. Or they can be included in soups, casseroles, or as a cooked vegetable.

Bushcraft Uses:

The stems of the plant can be processed to make excellent cordage. As a matter of fact due to its abundance, many Native American tribes made most of their cordage from the Asclepias genus. The abundance of not only the growth of Asclepias, but also the yield of fibers, make it more attractive than hemp. The fluff from the seeds has been used as an insulating filler for winter garments. The compressed silk like fibers are also a favorite backing material for the displays of many a butterfly collector.

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis a,nd treatment of any illness or injury.

Medicinal Uses:
None Known

Medicinal Actions:
N/A