Table of Contents for Lemmon’s Milkweed (Asclepias lemmonii)
Lemmon’s Milkweed (Asclepias lemmonii) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the state of Arizona in the United States and ranges south into Mexico. This plant is a host to the Queen (Danaus gilippus) and Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterflies. Growing from 2 to 3 feet tall, this species grows in calcareous rocky areas and oak and pine woods. The greenish-yellow to purple flowers bloom from June to September and the plant is hardy in zones 9-10.
Taxonomy and Naming of Lemmon’s Milkweed (Asclepias lemmonii)
Taxonomy
Lemmon’s Milkweed (Asclepias lemmonii) was originally named and described by Asa Gray, an American botanist in 1883. It has kept this same name since and is a member of the Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae).
Meaning of the Scientific and Common Names
Scientific Name
The genus name, Asclepias, is named for the Greek god of healing, Asklepios (Flora of Wisconsin). The species name, lemmonii, is in honor of John and Sara Lemmon who were botanists (KXCI).
Common Name and Alternative Names
The common name is in honor of John and Sara Lemmon.
Physical Description
- Plant Type: This plant is a herbaceous perennial.
- Height: 1 to 3 feet tall
- Stem: The stem is stout and erect and pilose (Woodson 1954).
- Leaves: The leaves are opposite, subsessile, ovate to elliptic and are 2 to 10 inches long and 1 to 6 inches wide. The leaves are villous (Kearney and Peebles 1942).
- Flower color: greenish-yellow (Woodson 1954) to purplish (swbiodiversity.org).
- Blooming period: This plant blooms from June to September.
- Fruiting type and period: This plant has follicles that mature in the late summer and fall.
Range of Lemmon’s Milkweed in the United States and Canada
This milkweed species is native to the state of Arizona in the United States. Its range extends south into Mexico.
Habitat
This species grows in rocky calcareous areas, oak/pine forests (Woodson 1954), open pine woods (Kearney and Peebles 1942), and roadsides (swbiodiversity.org).
Hosted Insects
This species is a host for the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus).
Other Supported Wildlife
This species is a nectar source to other butterflies, skippers, bees, and wasps during the growing season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this plant poisonous?
Like other milkweeds, it has cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) and is considered to be poisonous with ingestion.
Does this plant have any ethnobotanical uses?
The Native American Ethobotanical Database does not cite this species specifically, but milkweeds in general have been used for pharmaceuticals, fibers, and foods.
How is this plant distinguished from other milkweeds?
This species is most similar to the nodding milkweed (Asclepias elata) and the broad-leaf milkweed (Asclepias latifolia). However, Lemmon’s milkweed differs from both in that it has villous stem.
Is this plant invasive?
This plant has not been noted as being weedy and is restricted to the state of Arizona in the United States.
Gardening with Lemmon’s Milkweed
Hardiness
This species is hardy in zone 9-10. If your garden is within these zones and you have the right growing conditions (soil, moisture and exposure), you may well be able to grow this plant. However, if planted outside of its range, the hosted species may not recognize the plant or be harmed by ingesting a different species with an unfamiliar chemical composition. However, this is a rare species and is not in the horticultural trade.
Optimal Conditions
This species can grow in full sun to partial-shade in well-drained soil to that is dry to wet.
References
- Kearney, Thomas H. and Robert H. Peebles. 1942. The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Arizona. USDA Miscellaneous Publication 423.
- Woodson, Robert. 1954. The North American Species of Asclepias L. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 41: 1-211.
