Short Green Milkweed

short green milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)

 

Milkweed is the essential host plant for monarch caterpillars and a nectar source for many pollinators. All of our milkweeds are hardy perennials that return year after year once established.

 

Spring 2027 Availability: This is a new species we are working to propagate for Spring 2027. Availability will depend on successful germination and growing conditions.

 

plant profile

Short Green Milkweed is a distinctive native perennial with broad, often wavy leaves and rounded clusters of pale green to yellow green flowers. It naturally occurs in prairies, grasslands, glades, open woodlands, and other dry, open habitats. Its compact growth and unusual green flowers give it a very different appearance from many other milkweed species.

 

Growing conditions

  • Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade 
  • Soil: Well drained; adaptable to sandy, loamy, and rocky soils
  • Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
  • Bloom time: Summer
  • Lifecycle: Perennial

 

planting instructions

  • Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are mild.
  • Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball and set the crown level with the soil surface.
  • Space plants 12–24 inches apart and allow additional room for the colony to spread over time. 
  • Water thoroughly after planting and regularly while the plant becomes established. Reduce supplemental watering once established.

  • Choose the planting location carefully, as Short Green Milkweed develops a large central taproot and is best left undisturbed once established.

 

seasonal growth pattern

  • Year 1: Establishes its root system and produces upright leafy growth. Flowering may be limited while the plant becomes established.
  • Year 2: Produces stronger growth and more reliable flowering
  • Year 3 and beyond: Returns reliably each spring with established growth and seasonal blooms
  • Fall & Winter: Seed pods mature and split to release wind dispersed seeds. Above ground growth dies back for winter and returns in spring.

 

care

Short Green Milkweed performs best in full sun to partial shade and well drained soil. Once established, it is drought tolerant and generally requires little supplemental watering. Avoid consistently wet or poorly drained locations.

 

notes

  • Produces distinctive pale green to yellow green flower clusters.
  • Broad, often wavy leaves give it a distinctive appearance.
  • Drought tolerant once established.
  • Develops a large central taproot and is best left undisturbed once established.
  • Naturally adapted to dry prairies, grasslands, glades, and open woodland habitats.