Practical
Plants

Asclepias viridiflora

Green Milkweed

a perennial member of the Asclepias genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides[16]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[16].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root can be dried and stored for use as a flavouring in soups[15]. The following reports refer to other members of this genus and are possibly also appropriate for this species[K]. Unopened flower buds - cooked. They taste somewhat like peas. They are used like broccoli[9]. Flowers and young flower buds - cooked. Used as a flavouring and a thickener in soups etc[21][2]. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup[11][26]. The flowers are harvested in the early morning with the dew still on them[27]. When boiled up it makes a brown sugar[27]. Young shoots - cooked. An asparagus substitute[11][17][18][21][24][27][9]. They should be used when less than 20cm tall[6]. A slightly bitter taste[6]. Tips of older shoots are cooked like spinach[26][9]. Young seed pods, 3 - 4 cm long, cooked[11][18][21][26]. They are very appetizing. Best used when about 2 - 4cm long and before the seed floss forms, on older pods remove any seed floss before cooking them[26][6]. If picked at the right time, the pods resemble okra[9]. The sprouted seeds can be eaten[9]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[21][8]. The latex in the stems is made into a chewing gum[19][23]. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost[4]. Yields are higher on dry soils[4].

Plant part
Flowers
Product or use
Gum
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Sweetener
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A poultice made from the chewed roots can be applied to rashes, a nursing baby's sore gums and rheumatic joints[15]. It can also be used as a poultice on sore eyes[15]. The root can also be chewed as a treatment for sore throats whilst an infusion has been used to treat diarrhoea in children[15]. An infusion of the whole plant has been used to increase the milk flow of a nursing mother[15].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Galactogogue
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following reports refer to other members of this genus and are possibly also appropriate for this species[K]. A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark, used in making twine, cloth, paper etc[27][4][7]. It is of poor quality in wet seasons[4]. It is easily harvested in late autumn after the plant has died down by simply pulling the fibres off the dried stems[7]. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth[4][6][7][8]. It is a Kapok substitute, used in Life Jackets or as a stuffing material[4]. Very water repellent, it can yield up to 550 kilos per hectare[4]. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. Candlewicks can be made from the seed floss[4][13]. Rubber can be made from latex contained in the leaves and the stems[19][22][2][6]. It is found mainly in the leaves and is destroyed by frost[4]. Yields are higher on dry soils[4]. Pods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. The seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil[25][4]. It is also used in making liquid soap[25].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Latex
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Pollution
Product or use
Stuffing
Product or use
Wick

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - west and south to Arizona and Mexico.
Habitat
Sandy, gravelly or calcareous soils in prairies[14][16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter[5][7]. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring[K], though stored seed might need 2 - 3 weeks cold stratification[5]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[5]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established.. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any good soil[10]. Prefers a well-drained light rich or peaty soil[1][12]. Requires a moist peaty soil and a sunny position[3][5]. A good bee plant[20][25]. The flower of many members of this genus can trap insects between its anther cells, the struggles of the insect in escaping ensure the pollination of the plant[13]. Many members of this genus seem to be particularly prone to damage by slugs. The young growth in spring is especially vulnerable, but older growth is also attacked and even well-established plants have been destroyed in wet years[K]. Plants resent root disturbance and are best planted into their final positions whilst small[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

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  4. Whiting. A. G. A Summary of the Literature on Milkweeds (Asclepias spp) and their utilization.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  13. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1986-00-00 ISBN 070060295x

    ↩

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  18. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  20. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  21. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  22. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  23. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  24. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  25. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  26. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  27. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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