Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Apocynaceae

Genus:

Asclepias

Species:

Asclepias purpurascens

USDA Symbol:

ASPU2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

120 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

purple, pink, magenta

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

monarch butterflies, bees, other pollinators, birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from deep rhizomes after fire or mowing. Fire helps maintain open habitat and reduces woody competition in prairie settings.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

Thrives in open woods and prairies; sensitive to soil compaction.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination. Sow on surface and keep moist. Can be sown directly outdoors in fall for natural stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI