Common milkweed, Silkweed
Asclepias syriaca

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. A plant that sprouts like asparagus. The shoots can be 1 m tall. It contains milky juice. The leaves are large and opposite or in rings. They are oblong and pointed at the tip. They are thick and leathery. The flowers occur in a cluster. They are purple. The fruit are pods that are pointed. They occur in pairs.

There are 100 Asclepias species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry soil and along roadsides. It needs full sun. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Canada, Europe, France, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America (country/location of origin), Slovenia, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young shoots and leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The pods are dried and used to flavour food. The young pods can also be cooked and used like okra. The flowers are used to make a sugar. The unopened flower buds are steamed and used like broccoli. The sprouted seeds are eaten.

Edible parts

Flowers, gum, leaves, root, seeds, seeds pod, sprouted seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Cigansko perje, Sirska svilnica

Synonyms

Asclepias apocinum Gaterau; Asclepias capitellata Raf.; Asclepias cornuti Decne.; Asclepias fragrans Raf. [Illegitimate]; Asclepias globosa Stokes; Asclepias grandifolia Bertol.; Asclepias illinoensis Michx. ex Steud.; Asclepias intermedia Vail; Asclepias kansana Vail; Asclepias pubescens Moench [Illegitimate]; Asclepias pubigera Dumort.; Asclepias serica Raf. [Illegitimate]; Asclepias syriaca f. inermis J.R. Churchill; Asclepias syriaca var. kansana (Vail) E.J. Palmer & Steyerm.; Asclepias syriaca f. leucantha Dore Asclepias syriaca f. polyphylla B. Boivin; Asclepias syriaca f. syriaca; Asclepias syriaca var. syriaca;