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 of Milkweed](images/large/milkweed-full.jpg)
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Milkweed Seed Pods](images/large/milkweed-seedpods-full.jpg)
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Orange Milkweed Flowers and Seed Pod](images/large/milkweed-orangeflowerandseedpod-full.jpg)
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Orange Milkweed Flowers](images/large/milkweed-orangeflowers-full.jpg)
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension