Family Apocynaceae

Grows in shade or partial shade;  flowers attract Monarchs and Fritillary butterflies;  beetles and caterpillars that eat milkweeds eat the leaves, flowers, seeds and stems.  It’s not much bothered by mammals because, like other milkweeds, it contains cardiac glycosides which are bad tasting and toxic.  (Illinois Wildflowers)

6/16/2018 – with Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies and Monarch caterpillars

 

6/16/2007  with bee

 

6/21/2022  Monarch caterpillar on underside of Poke Milkweed leaf

 

6/16/2020  Great Spangled Fritillaries

 

6/13/2026

 

6/12/2021  Stem rust