Milkweed

This common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is along a roadside in Cass County, July 3, 2009. The butterfly is a Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The Monarch butterfly depends on milkweed plants for survival. This picture was taken July 3, 2009.

Link to Asclepias syriaca:

Link to Danaus plexippus:

Link to milkweed butterflies:


This is a colony of milkweed plants along a roadside near Ross Hills Park, Tippecanoe County, June 30, 2009. Milkweed spreads as a clone via its rhizomes underground. Some milkweed colonies are thought to be hundreds of years old.

Link to rhizomes:


This is milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in a wildflower garden at White River State Park in Indianapolis. It may have been intentionally planted with the rest of the plants there, or maybe it just found its way there as a weed. June 21, 2009.

Link to Asclepias syriaca:

Link to Asclepias syriaca: