{"product_id":"asclepias-syriaca-qt","title":"Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) - QT","description":"\u003cp\u003eCommon Milkweed is a widespread and conspicuously familiar sight along roadways, railroad tracks, fields, and open, disturbed areas across much of North America. It is strongly rhizomatous and often spreads to form large vegetative colonies in favorable conditions. It needs plenty of sun and can thrive in dry, rocky, poor soils, while also having an excellent drought tolerance. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid it because of its toxic milky latex sap, making the establishment of a new milkweed patch fairly easy. This species does want to spread aggressively and should only be planted where this tendency can be appreciated rather than dreaded. For smaller garden areas, Sullivant's Milkweed or Showy Milkweed are very similar and slower to spread, offering an easier option for management. Milkweeds are incredibly important plants because they act as a larval host and as a nectar source for adult butterflies and other insects. North America’s celebrity butterfly, the Monarch, lays her eggs on milkweed plants. The distinctive yellow, black and white striped caterpillars eat only the leaves of this genus, making them a vital part of the ecosystem from coast to coast. It also hosts a specialist moth, the Milkweed Tussock Moth, as well as many milkweed beetles and bugs. They are very active plants, always crawling with beautiful and interesting creatures that are drawn to them! Milkweeds are a productive, necessary, and worthy group of plants to include in any landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSources:\u003cbr\u003eGrowing and Propagating Wildflowers by William Cullina\u003cbr\u003eThe Midwestern Native Garden by Charlotte Adelman \u0026amp; Bernard L. Schwartz\u003cbr\u003eMissouri Botanical Garden\u003cbr\u003eLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center\u003cbr\u003eIllinois Wildflowers\u003cbr\u003eUSDA Forest Service\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scioto Gardens Native Plant Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47943771259121,"sku":"AscSyrQT","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0787\/7092\/9905\/files\/a5216a98-45c5-4940-94f4-1dcacde5c359_c0f9ed41-368b-4a99-99c5-0a6c8c552a42.jpg?v=1774028848","url":"https:\/\/scioto-gardens-native-plant-nursery.myshopify.com\/products\/asclepias-syriaca-qt","provider":"Scioto Gardens Native Plant Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}