Apocynum cannabinum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used by Native Americans and in herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Fibers were used as thread for sewing or to make string, netting and other items.
Plant Profile: Apocynum cannabinum
Taxonomy: Apocynum cannabinumNames
Amy Root,, Dogbane, Hemp Dogbane, Indian Hemp, Prairie Dogbane
Phonetic Spelling:ah-POS-ih-num kan-na-BEE-num
Genus:Apocynum
Species:cannabinum
Family:Apocynaceae
Indian Hemp is a bushy plant belonging to the dogbane family, capable of reaching heights of up to 5 feet. When any part of this plant is damaged, it releases a milky sap, and all its components are deemed highly toxic to both humans and mammals. Typically, it thrives in natural settings such as dry, rocky areas, open woodlands, glades, and prairies. The stems are fibrous and were historically significant to Native Americans for crafting rope.
This plant is highly adaptable, flourishing in nearly any soil type, with a preference for full sunlight. It can spread rapidly, making it effective for controlling erosion on slopes and along stream banks. However, due to its vigorous growth, it is not advisable to cultivate it in gardens. The small, inconspicuous flowers are rich in nectar, making them appealing to pollinators.
In terms of pests, diseases, or other plant-related issues, Indian Hemp does not face any significant challenges.
Apocynum cannabinum Feature Summary
Apocynum cannabinum Image Gallery
Tags
#poisonous
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#showy
#weedy
#herb garden
#low flammability
#NC native
#native garden
#fire resistant
#naturalizes
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#nectar plant late spring
#dry soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant early summer
#nectar plant mid-summer
#problem for cats
#pollinator garden
#problem for dogs
#bee friendly
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Apocynum cannabinum Feature Summary
Attributes
Used by Native Americans and in herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Fibers were used as thread for sewing or to make string, netting and other items.
All of North America
All 48 states plus much of Canada
Its flowers provides nectar to bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Non-edible
Perennial
Seed
Division
Wildlife Food Source
low flammability
Fruit
The fruit is a pair of hanging, slender, slightly curved pods 4 to 8 inches long with small brown seeds with a tuft of white hair to carry them in the wind.
Capsule
> 3 inches
Flowers
1-3 inch wide terminal panicles of greenish-white tubular or bell-shaped flowers. Individual flowers 1/4 inch. Additional clusters occur in the upper leaf axils. Flower blooms from May to July.
Pink
White
Green
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The lower leaves will have a short stem, while the upper leaves are sessile. The leaves are 1 to 3-inches wide and half as much across. They are ovate to elliptical. The undersides have hairs. Yellow color in fall.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Simple
Opposite
Elliptical
Ovate
Entire
Stem
The stem is smooth and red with a milky sap inside. It has ascending branches near the top of the stem.
Red/Burgundy
Smooth (glabrous)
Poisonous to Humans
Cardiac Arrest, nausea, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea. The milky sap from stems can cause blisters on skin.
Resins and cardiac glycosides
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Herb
Deciduous
Erect
Rapid
High
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Specialized Bees
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy
Problem for Children
Apocynum cannabinum Image Gallery
Apocynum cannabinum Attributes
Apocynum cannabinum: Country Or Region Of Origin
All of North America
Apocynum cannabinum: Distribution
All 48 states plus much of Canada
Apocynum cannabinum: Wildlife Value
Its flowers provides nectar to bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Apocynum cannabinum: Edibility
Non-edible
Apocynum cannabinum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Apocynum cannabinum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Apocynum cannabinum: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Apocynum cannabinum: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Apocynum cannabinum Fruit
Apocynum cannabinum: Fruit Description
The fruit is a pair of hanging, slender, slightly curved pods 4 to 8 inches long with small brown seeds with a tuft of white hair to carry them in the wind.
Apocynum cannabinum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Apocynum cannabinum: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Apocynum cannabinum: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Apocynum cannabinum Flowers
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Description
1-3 inch wide terminal panicles of greenish-white tubular or bell-shaped flowers. Individual flowers 1/4 inch. Additional clusters occur in the upper leaf axils. Flower blooms from May to July.
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Color
Green
Pink
White
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Apocynum cannabinum: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Apocynum cannabinum Leaves
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Description
The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The lower leaves will have a short stem, while the upper leaves are sessile. The leaves are 1 to 3-inches wide and half as much across. They are ovate to elliptical. The undersides have hairs. Yellow color in fall.
Apocynum cannabinum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Color
Green
Apocynum cannabinum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Apocynum cannabinum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Apocynum cannabinum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Apocynum cannabinum Stem
Apocynum cannabinum: Stem Description
The stem is smooth and red with a milky sap inside. It has ascending branches near the top of the stem.
Apocynum cannabinum: Stem Color
Red/Burgundy
Apocynum cannabinum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Apocynum cannabinum: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Apocynum cannabinum Poisonous to Humans
Apocynum cannabinum: Poison Symptoms
Cardiac Arrest, nausea, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea. The milky sap from stems can cause blisters on skin.
Apocynum cannabinum: Poison Toxic Principle
Resins and cardiac glycosides
Apocynum cannabinum: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Apocynum cannabinum: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Apocynum cannabinum: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Apocynum cannabinum Whole Plant Traits
Apocynum cannabinum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Apocynum cannabinum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Apocynum cannabinum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Apocynum cannabinum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Apocynum cannabinum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Apocynum cannabinum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Apocynum cannabinum Cultural Conditions
Apocynum cannabinum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Apocynum cannabinum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Apocynum cannabinum: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Apocynum cannabinum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Apocynum cannabinum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Apocynum cannabinum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Apocynum cannabinum Landscape
Apocynum cannabinum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Apocynum cannabinum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Apocynum cannabinum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Apocynum cannabinum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Apocynum cannabinum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
