Spider Milkweed

Spider Milkweed, also called Green Antelopehorns, is one of the earliest-blooming native milkweeds, offering rounded clusters of creamy green flowers with deep purple centers in spring to early summer. Its intricate blooms are subtler than Butterfly Weed or Swamp Milkweed, but they reward close inspection and attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and other beneficial insects.

Native to sunny prairies, open woodlands, and rocky glades, Spider Milkweed grows 1 to at most 2 feet tall and develops a deep taproot that helps it tolerate drought, poor soils, and harsh conditions once established. Like all native milkweeds, it is an essential host plant for monarch caterpillars, while its upright seed pods add late-season interest and help the plant reseed naturally over time.

Why Choose Spider Milkweed?

• Essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars
• One of the earliest native milkweeds to bloom
• Unique green-and-purple flowers attract diverse pollinators
• Compact size fits smaller sunny gardens and prairie plantings
• Drought-tolerant once established thanks to its deep taproot
  

• Water: Water regularly during establishment; highly drought-tolerant once mature.
• Soil: Prefers well-drained soils and thrives in sandy, rocky, or clay soils with good drainage.
• Light: Full sun produces the strongest plants and heaviest flowering.
• Transplanting: Plant where it will remain permanently, as the deep taproot makes mature plants difficult to move.
• Seed Pods: Leave pods in place if you'd like the plant to self-seed naturally, or remove them before they split to limit spread.
• Pests: Oleander aphids may occasionally appear but rarely cause lasting harm; they can often be managed with a strong spray of water.
• Wildlife Note: An indispensable host plant for Monarch butterflies and a valuable nectar source for a wide variety of native pollinators.