Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Apocynaceae

Genus:

Asclepias

Species:

Asclepias ovata

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

60 cm

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

greenish-white, cream

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, bees, other pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from deep roots after fire, typical of prairie species. Fire helps maintain open habitat and reduces woody competition.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination; sow on surface or barely cover. Cold stratification improves germination rates significantly.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch