Found throughout the United States.
Leaves have short petioles and are sparingly pubescent or lacking hairs beneath.
Lack hairs, often have a reddish tint when mature, become woody at the base, and are much-branched in the upper portions of the plant. These plants may be found growing as colonies due to a long horizontal rootstock that develops from an initial taproot. Stems and leaves secrete a milky sap when broken. However, the leaves of hemp dogbane are much smaller than those of common milkweed. When mature, these weeds may be distinguished by the branching in the upper portions of the plant that occurs in hemp dogbane, and also the smaller size of this weed compared to common milkweed.