Common Name(s):

Florida milkweed

Feay's milkweed

Scientific Name:

Asclepias feayi

 

Native Range:

FL

 

USDA Symbol:

ASFE4

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Habitat: 

• scrub

• flat pinelands

• rosemary sandy scrub

• sandhills

• open sandy areas associated with wiregrass (Aristida stricta)

• burned scrubby flatwoods

• edges of open pine flatwoods

• associated with saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)

 

Growing Conditions:

• full sun

• sandy soils that are seasonally wet

 

Plant Height:
• 1-3 feet (0.3-1 meter)

 

Stem Description:

• short, thin stem

• 8-24 inches (20-61 centimeters) long

• may be smooth or slightly fuzzy

 

Leaf Description: 

• narrowly linear 

• approximately 2-3 inches (5-8 centimeters) long

• widely spaced along the stem

 

Leaf Arrangement:

• opposite

 

Leaf Margin:

• entire

 

Leaf Surface:

• mostly glabrous (hairless)

 

Flowering Period: 

• March through August

Flower Description:

• small flowers, approximately 5/8 inch in diameter

• stigmatic disc is pink to dark magenta

• petals not strongly reflexed which gives it a star-like appearance

• petal edges may be wavy or smooth

• very few flowers occurring at the top of the main stem

• hoods level with or below the stigmatic disc

• horns visible but inside hoods

• flower pedicel may be fuzzy

 

Flower Color:

• white, tinged with pink or magenta

 

Pod Description:

• no data

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Other Information:

• this species is uncommon and endemic to Florida. It is found only in the southern half of the state

• the species name, feayi, of this plant honors botanist William T. Feay