Asclepias tuberosa

Asclepias tuberosa has upright, multiple, semi-woody stems that sprout from a tuber-like root.  The hairy stems are lined with lance-shaped, opposite leaves and topped with multiple clusters of small flowers. Flowers are bright orange to rusty red-colored and followed by a ribbed seed pod full of cotton-like hair attached to seeds that are wind-dispersed. This plant is toxic if ingested raw. Orange oleander aphids are inevitably attracted to this plant but pose little threat unless the population swells to very large numbers. This has the beneficial effect of attracting ladybugs, which feed on these aphids as well as green aphids, which eat many food crops. Host plant for the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).