+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## butterfly milkweed {#butterfly-milkweed .Title-Header}             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Asclepias tuberosa* L.                                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Plant Symbol = ASTU                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

**Alternative Names**![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.9in"
height="1.913888888888889in"}

orange milkweed, chigger weed

#### Use

**Warning:** [Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally, without
sufficient preparation.]{.underline}

*Ethnobotanic*: Milkweed has been used for fiber, food, and medicine by
people all over the United States and southern Canada. Fibers from the
stems of milkweed have been identified in prehistoric textiles in the
Pueblo region. Tewa-speaking people of the Rio Grande still make string
and rope from these fibers. At the Zuni Pueblo, the silky seed fibers
are spun on a hand-held wooden spindle and made into yarn and woven into
fabric, especially for dancers. Pueblo people ate green milkweed pods
and uncooked roots from one of the species that forms fleshy tubers
underground.

Milkweeds supply tough fibers for making cords and ropes, and for
weaving a coarse cloth. Milkweed stems are collected after the stalks
senesce in late fall to early winter. The dried stalks are split open to
release the fibers. Milkweed fibers are sometimes mixed with fibers of
Indian-hemp (*Apocynum cannabinum*). The bark is removed and the fibers
released by first rubbing between the hands and then drawing the fibers
over a hard surface. The cord is

formed by twisting the fiber opposite each other and twining them
together. Often this is accomplished by rolling the fibers on the thigh,
while twisting them together.

The young shoots, stems, flower buds, immature fruits, and roots of
butterfly milkweed were boiled and eaten as a vegetable by various
indigenous groups of eastern and mid-western America.

Butterfly milkweed has many medicinal uses. The Omahas and Poncas ate
the raw root of the butterfly milkweed for bronchial and pulmonary
troubles. Butterfly milkweed root was also chewed and placed on wounds,
or dried, pulverized, and blown into wounds. The Omaha tribe used
butterfly milkweed medicine for rites belonging to the Shell Society.
The Dakotas used the butterfly milkweed as an emetic. The Menominis
considered the butterfly milkweed, which they called the \"deceiver,\"
one of their most important medicines.

Generalized medicinal uses for milkweed species include 1) its use in a
salve for scrofulous swelling, 2) as a diarrhea medicine, 3) drunk by
mothers unable to produce milk, 4) medicine for snow blindness and other
forms of blindness, 5) relief of sore throat, 6) applied chewed root for
swelling and rashes, 7) to expel tapeworm, 8) to treat colic, 9) to act
as contraceptives, and 10) to cure snakebite.

European Americans used *Asclepias tuberosa*, called \"pleurisy root\",
to relieve inflammation of the lining of the lungs and thorax, and to
relieve bronchial and pulmonary trouble. Pleurisy root is a stimulant to
the vagus nerve, producing perspiration, expectoration, and bronchial
dilation. As its name signifies, it is useful for pleurisy and mild
pulmonary edema, increasing fluid circulation, cilia function, and
lymphatic drainage. The root of the butterfly milkweed, was officially
listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1905 and in the National
Formulary from 1916 to 1936.

Milkweed species, as a group, are known to contain cardiac glycosides
that are poisonous both to humans and to livestock, as well as other
substances that may account for their medicinal effect. Resinoids,
glycosides, and a small amount of alkaloids are present in all parts of
the plant. Symptoms of poisoning by the cardiac glycosides include
dullness, weakness, bloating, inability to stand or walk, high body
temperature, rapid and weak pulse, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils,
spasms, and coma.

The cardiac glycoside in milkweed has also been useful as a chemical
defense for monarch butterflies (*Danaus plexippus*). Chemicals from the
milkweed plant make the monarch caterpillar\'s flesh distasteful to most
predators. Monarch butterflies are specific to milkweed plants. This is
the only type of plant on which the eggs are laid and the larvae will
feed and mature into a chrysalis. Eggs are laid on the underside of
young healthy leaves. Monarch, Queen, and Viceroy butterflies are
Müllerian mimics, all are toxic, and have co-evolved similar warning
patterns to avoid predation.

*Wildlife*: Milkweed species are attractive to many insect species,
including the large milkweed bug, common milkweed bug, red milkweed
beetle, blue milkweed beetle, and bees. Accordingly, this is a wonderful
horticultural plant for landscaping to attract butterflies (particularly
monarchs), whose numbers are declining and migratory routes changing due
to lack of appropriate habitat. Butterfly milkweed also has strikingly
beautiful flowers.

*Caution*: At one time, milkweed was classified as a noxious weed due to
reported toxic effects on livestock, and efforts were made to eradicate
it. Milkweeds are thought to be poisonous to cows and sheep. Milkweed
also can have invasive characteristics in disturbed areas.

#### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious
status, and wetland indicator values.

#### Description 

*General*: Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae). *Asclepias tuberosa* is a
perennial herb 3-9 dm tall with woody rootstocks. According to Kelly
Kindscher (1992), \"Asclepias comes from the name of the Greek god of
medicine, Asklepios. The species name, *tuberosa,* means full of
swellings or knobs, referring to the enlarged root system.\" Butterfly
milkweed stems are hairy, erect, and grow in numerous clumps. There is a
watery sap within the stems and leaves. The leaves are alternate,
simple, crowded, lance-shaped, 5-10 cm long, shiny green, smooth above
and velvety beneath. The flowers are in showy, rounded to flat-topped
groups near the ends of branches. Each flower has 5 petals, bent
downward, orange to red or sometimes yellow, topped by a crown of 5
erect hoods, each one containing a short horn. Fruits are hairy,
spindle-shaped pods 8-15 cm long. The numerous seeds each have a tuft of
long white hairs at the tip.

#### Distribution

Milkweeds grow in clumps beside roadways, on abandoned farmlands, and in
other open areas throughout the United States. Butterfly milkweed grows
on sandy, loamy, or rocky limestone soils of prairies, open woodlands,
roadsides, and disturbed areas similar to other milkweed species. For
current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

#### Establishment

Butterfly milkweed is easily propagated by both seed and rhizome
cuttings. Both seedlings and cuttings will usually bloom in their second
year, although cuttings will occasionally bloom during their first year.
Seeds and plants of selected cultivars are available from many
nurseries. When the roots of the butterfly milkweed were more commonly
harvested for their medicinal use, the plants were dug when dormant in
the late fall. Butterfly milkweed increases by underground shoots and
can be invasive. It is ideal in semi-dry places where it can spread
without presenting problems for other ornamental species.

##### Seed Collections

*Asclepias tuberosa* is easily propagated from seed. Collect seeds after
the pods have ripened, but before they have split open. The seeds are
wind dispersed, so be careful when gathering to place in a paper or
burlap bag to avoid losing them. Butterfly milkweed seeds should be
cold-treated for three months. Seeds can be directly sewn into the
ground in the fall. The seed is very viable. It is not certain how long
you can store the seeds.

##### Whole Plant Collections

Propagation by cuttings of the tuberous rhizome is also easy and
reliable. The cuttings should be made when the plant is dormant. Each
piece of the rhizome should have at least one bud (they are about two
inches apart). Timing of propagation is important. Harvest or divide
plants and get the plants in the ground by late fall so they can develop
enough root growth to survive the winter. Irrigation the first year will
improve survival, and by the second year the root system should be well
enough established so plants will survive on their own.

Both seedlings and cuttings will usually bloom in their second year,
although cuttings will occasionally bloom during their first year
(Kindscher 1992).

#### Management

Both milkweed and dogbane are burned in the fall to eliminate dead
stalks and stimulate new growth. Burning causes new growth to have
taller, straighter stems (with longer fibers). It also stimulates flower
and seed production.

When used for fiber, milkweed is collected in the autumn after the
leaves have begun to fall off, the stalks turn gray or tan, and the
plant dries up. If the milkweed stems will break off at the ground it\'s
time to harvest. Breaking off as many stalks as possible encourages
resprouting in the spring. The dried stalks are then split open and the
fibers are twisted into string.

Vast quantities of fiber plants are required for nets, regalia, and
cordage. Blackburn and Anderson (1993) quote Craig Bates of the Yosemite
Museum that it takes approximately five stalks of milkweed or Indian
hemp to manufacture one foot of cordage. A Sierra Miwok feather skirt or
cape contained about 100 feet of cordage made from approximately 500
plant stalks, while a deer net 40 feet in length (Barrett and Gifford
1933:178) contained some 7,000 feet of cordage, which would have
required the harvesting of a staggering 35,000 plant stalks.

#### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

ASTU is readily available through native plant nurseries within its
range. Seeds and plants of selected *Asclepias* cultivars are available
from many nurseries. It is best to plant species from your local area,
adapted to the specific site conditions where the plants are to be
grown.

#### References

Blackburn, T.C. & M.K. Anderson 1993. *Before the wilderness.
Environmental management by Native Californians*. A Ballena Press
Publication. 476 pp.

Bouton, D.W. 1995. *The monarch butterfly. A fragile tissue in the
wind*. Continuum Publishers, Harpersville, New York.

Dunmire, W.W. & G.D. Tierney 1995. *Wild plants of the Pueblo province.
Exploring ancient and enduring uses*. Museum of Mexico Press, Santa Fe,
New Mexico. 289 pp.

Dunmire, W.W. & G.D. Tierney 1997. *Wild plants and Native Peoples of
the Four Corners*. Museum of New Mexico Press. 312 pp.

Gilmore, M.R. 1977. *Uses of plants by the Indians of the Missouri River
region*. University of Nebraska Press. 125 pp.

Grace, E.S. 1997. *The world of the monarch butterfly*. Sierra Club
Books, San Francisco, California. 114 pp.

Hedrick, U.P. 1972. *Sturtevant\'s edible plants of the world*. Dover
Publications, Inc., New York, New York. 686 pp.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources 1999. *The tallgrass prairie of
Illinois*. Version: 000328.
\<http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/\~kenr/prairieplants.html\>. Illinois Natural
History Survey, Center for Biodiversity, Champaign, Illinois.

Kindscher, K. 1992. *Medicinal wild plants of the prairie. An
ethnobotanical guide*. University Press of Kansas. 340 pp.

Martin, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim, & Arnold L. Nelson 1951. *American
wildlife and plants. A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover
Publications, Inc., New York, New York. 500 pp.

Powell, J.A. & C.L. Hogue 1979. *California insects*. University of
California Press. 388 pp.

Stewart, B. 1997. *Common butterflies of California*. West Coast Lady
Press. 255 pp.

University of Kentucky 2000. *Wildlflowers of western Kentucky*.
Version: 000328. \<http://sac.uky.edu/\~mthom0/ormilkwd.htm\>.
Lexington, Kentucky.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 000328.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

#### Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

#### Species Coordinator

##### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited 17jan01 jsp; 29apr03 ahv; 31may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*