Asclepias exaltata

Asclepias exaltata (poke milkweed or tall milkweed) is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, native to eastern North America.

Asclepias exaltata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Asclepias
Species:	A. exaltata
Binomial name
Asclepias exaltata L.

Flower head of 2-year old A. exaltata in greenhouse

Poke Milkweed's green and white flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. The plant's leaves can become quite large on plants growing in moist shaded conditions. The plant resembles common milkweed (A. syriaca), and can hybridize with this species where the two occur in close proximity.^[2]

Poke milkweed is found in moist woodland habitats, shores, and woodland edges. It grows in moist soil and sunny or partly shaded places. It usually grows from 2 to 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8 m) tall, but can exceed 6 feet in height under favorable conditions.^[2]