Purple milkweed facts for kids

Purple milkweed is a common name for two different types of plants that belong to the Asclepias family. These plants are known for their beautiful purple flowers and are important for many insects, especially monarch butterflies.

The two plants called Purple milkweed are:

• Asclepias cordifolia, often found in western North America. People usually call this one Heart-leaf Milkweed because of its heart-shaped leaves.
• Asclepias purpurascens, which grows in eastern North America.

What is Purple Milkweed?

Purple milkweed plants are part of a larger group called Asclepias. These plants are famous for their unique flowers and the milky sap they produce if you break a stem or leaf. This sap helps protect them from animals that might want to eat them.

Where Does Purple Milkweed Grow?

The two main types of purple milkweed grow in different parts of North America.

• Heart-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia) likes to grow in the western regions, often in dry, rocky areas or open woodlands. You might find it in states like California, Oregon, and Nevada.
• Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) prefers the eastern parts of North America. It often grows in sunny spots like meadows, open woods, and along roadsides. It can be found from the Great Plains all the way to the East Coast.

What Does Purple Milkweed Look Like?

Both types of purple milkweed have pretty flowers that are usually a shade of purple or reddish-purple.

• Flowers: The flowers grow in clusters and have a unique shape. They are designed to help insects, like bees and butterflies, pollinate them.
• Leaves: The leaves of Asclepias cordifolia are shaped like a heart, which is why it's called Heart-leaf Milkweed. The leaves of Asclepias purpurascens are more oval-shaped.
• Stems: The stems are usually sturdy and can grow quite tall, sometimes up to three feet high.

Why is Milkweed Important for Monarch Butterflies?

Milkweed plants, including the purple varieties, are super important for monarch butterflies. They are the only plants that monarch caterpillars can eat.

• Food for Caterpillars: Female monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed leaves. When the eggs hatch, the tiny caterpillars eat the leaves to grow big and strong.
• Protection: The milky sap in milkweed contains special chemicals. When caterpillars eat the leaves, they store these chemicals in their bodies. This makes them taste bad to predators like birds, protecting them from being eaten.
• Life Cycle: Without milkweed, monarch butterflies would not be able to complete their life cycle. This is why protecting milkweed habitats is so important for these amazing insects.

How Does Purple Milkweed Reproduce?

Purple milkweed plants reproduce in a few ways to make more plants.

• Seeds: After the flowers are pollinated, they form seed pods. These pods eventually split open, releasing many flat, brown seeds with silky white hairs attached. The wind carries these seeds far away, helping the plant spread.
• Underground Stems: Some milkweed plants can also spread using underground stems called rhizomes. This allows them to form new plants from their roots, creating patches of milkweed.

How Can You Help Purple Milkweed?

You can help purple milkweed and the monarch butterflies that depend on it.

• Plant Milkweed: If you have a garden, consider planting native milkweed species, including purple milkweed, that are right for your area. Make sure they haven't been treated with pesticides.
• Spread Awareness: Tell your friends and family how important milkweed is for butterflies.
• Support Conservation: Learn about organizations that work to protect monarch butterflies and their habitats.

By understanding and protecting plants like purple milkweed, we can help keep our ecosystems healthy and support amazing creatures like the monarch butterfly.