Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Apocynaceae

Genus:

Asclepias

Species:

Asclepias pygmaea

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Geophyte , Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, pink, purple

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, bees, beneficial insects

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Tolerates prairie fires and resprouts from woody rootstock. Benefits from periodic burning which 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 benefit from light exposure during germination. Variable germination rates typical of Asclepias species.

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