Clasping Milkweed
Asclepias amplexicaulis
Last reviewed: August 2026
Clasping Milkweed is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (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
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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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.
Common questions
- How much sun does Clasping Milkweed need?
- Clasping Milkweed grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Clasping Milkweed bloom?
- Clasping Milkweed blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Clasping Milkweed native?
- Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 30 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Clasping Milkweed toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Clasping Milkweed is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Clasping Milkweed toxic to cats?
- Yes. Clasping Milkweed is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What butterflies or moths does Clasping Milkweed host?
- Clasping Milkweed is a larval host plant for monarch butterfly.
- Is Clasping Milkweed HOA-friendly?
- Clasping Milkweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Clasping Milkweed and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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