Asclepias asperula
Antelopehorn Milkweed is a cornerstone native perennial easily recognized by its decumbent stems, narrow curved leaves, and distinctive globe-like floral umbels of pale green and purplish blossoms resembling miniature antelope horns. Rich in toxic cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), the plant deters mammalian herbivores while serving as an indispensable primary larval host plant for Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and Queen (Danaus gilippus) caterpillars. Female butterflies deliberately seek out its fresh growth to lay eggs, allowing caterpillars to sequester the plant's toxins in their tissues as a life-long chemical defense against bird predators. In autumn, its horn-shaped seed pods split open to release winged seeds on silky plumes, dispersing across limestone savannas.
Height: 1-3 ft.
Spread: 2-5 ft.
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Need: Moderate
Sun Need: Part Sun, Full Sun
Substrate / Soil: Limestone, Loam, Gravelly
Bloom Season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
This species serves as an essential host plant for caterpillar larvae of: Monarch Butterfly, Queen Butterfly, Soldier Butterfly.
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