Common Milkweed is a 3’ to 6’ tall native perennial with globular heads of lavender to rose flowers. It can grow in dry, shallow, or rocky soils as well as more moist fertile soils, is drought tolerant, and prefers full sun sites. Although perhaps too aggressive for borders, this plant is widely used in butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, and prairie plant areas. The flowers are showy and fragrant. Common Milkweed is especially valuable as a pollinator conservation species and is a primary host plant for Monarch butterflies. This milkweed was an important fiber source for Native Americans and they had a large variety of medicinal uses for the plant.