Clasping Milkweed
Asclepias amplexicaulis
Last reviewed: June 2026
Clasping Milkweed is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 30 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, moths
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Clasping milkweed is a compact native perennial with distinctive blue-green leaves that clasp around the stem. It produces clusters of small greenish-white to pink flowers from June through August, followed by characteristic milkweed seed pods in fall.
In an HOA neighborhood
Clasping Milkweed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Milkweed name carries negative associations
- Seed pods and dispersal can appear messy
- May spread via underground rhizomes
Wildlife value
Host plant for monarch butterfly.
Essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and provides nectar for various bees, butterflies, and moths. The flowers are particularly attractive to native specialist bees and serve as a crucial food source during summer months.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Clasping Milkweed and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.