Description
Short Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), also known as Green Comet Milkweed, is a perennial herb native to North America. It typically grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet, featuring unbranched, erect stems that are light green to light purplish-green and may be slightly pubescent. The leaves are opposite, broadly lanceolate to ovate, measuring 4 to 13 cm in length and 1 to 6 cm in width, with a firm texture and wavy margins. From June to August, it produces rounded clusters of light green to greenish-white flowers, each about ½ inch long, which may develop yellowish-green or purplish-green tinges as they mature. These flowers emit a sweet fragrance that attracts various pollinators.
This species thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers dry to mesic conditions with sandy, clay, or rocky soils. It is commonly found in prairies, savannas, open woodlands, and along roadsides. Unlike some other milkweeds, Short Green Milkweed does not typically form large colonies, often appearing as solitary plants or in small groups.
Ecologically, Asclepias viridiflora serves as a host plant for Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars, providing essential foliage for their development. Its nectar-rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and butterflies, thereby contributing to local biodiversity.
