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oval milkweed

oval milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia) [state endangered]
Photo © Christopher David Benda

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
Oval milkweed, also known as dwarf milkweed, is about 20 inches in height. Pairs of leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stem. Seedpods are up to three inches in length. The flowers are positioned on the stem tip and in leaf axils and are white, green-white or pale purple-white in color.

BEHAVIORS
Oval milkweed flowers May through June. It grows in the northeastern one-fourth of the state and reaches its southeastern range limit in Illinois. This species can be found in hill and sand prairies, savannas and dry woods. Oval milkweed is endangered in Illinois.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae

Illinois Status: state endangered, native