Milkweed is a weed of perennial crops or no-till fields. It very seldom is a problem in plowed and cultivated fields. A tall plant, it has a milky juice which was investigated as a source of rubber. The seed pods contain a silky material which was used at one time to stuff life preservers. Orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a highly colored variant. Seldom a weed it is food for the monarch butterfly.
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension