Plant Profile: Asclepias quadrifolia

Upright, perennial herbs characterized by a milky sap; they feature whorls of four leaves situated in the middle of the stem, with the upper leaves arranged in pairs. These leaves are slender and vary in shape from oval to lanceolate, measuring between 2 to 6 inches in length. The plant produces 1 to 4 dome-shaped clusters of flowers that can be pink, lavender, or white, with pale pink corolla lobes and white hoods, each consisting of five parts. The fruit is dry, inflated, and upright, containing numerous tufted seeds.

Preferred habitats include the edges of woodlands and roadsides. This species is often found in weedy, disturbed areas and is either native or has naturalized in places such as waste sites, roadsides, and fields. It is also cultivated as an herbaceous perennial in flower gardens.