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Close-up of Flowers of slim-leaf milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla).Samuel A. Schmid, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

(Asclepias stenophylla)
Slim-leaf Milkweed

Host Plant: Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Nectar Plant: many insects including other butterflies, bees, and wasps.

Flower Color: greenish-white

Growth Habit: herbaceous perennial

Range in North America: South-central and mid-western United States

Exposure: Prefers full sun

Hardiness: Zones 3-9

Soil Requirements: well-drained soil that is gravelly to sandy

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Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla)

Close-up of Flowers of slim-leaf milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla).
Flowers of Slim-leaf Milkweed — Samuel A. Schmid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Narrow-leaf Milkweed, Narrow-leaved Green Milkweed

Description of Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla)

Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla), a member of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 0.5′ to 3′ tall and blooms in the summer (June to August).  The fruits, which are follicles, mature in the late summer to fall.  More information on this species can be found on this blog post.

Hosted Species

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on orange flower.
Monarch Butterfly on Orange Flower — ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) on a branch.
Queen Butterfly on Branch — Korall, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nectar Species

Many other butterflies and insects use this species as a nectar source.

Habitat

This milkweed grows in dry, gravel prairies, and sandy areas.

Range of Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla) in the United States and Canada

Range map of slim-leaf milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla) in the United States and Canada.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Asclepias, is the Greek name for the God of Medicine.  The species name, stenophylla, comes from the Greek word, stenos, meaning narrow and leaf (phyllos).  It refers to the narrow leaves of the plant.

Native Location

Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun

Plant Habit

Herbaceous

Soil Requirements

Dry, Medium

Hosted Species

Danaus gilippus (Queen), Danaus plexippus (Monarch)

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Slim-leaf Milkweed”

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