1. The Common Milkweed
Ben Brantley

2. Flowers The flowers are pinkish-purple
The plant flowers from June-August
Each flower is actually many flowers on a single stem

3. Pollination
The pollen that bees and butterflies use to pollinate this plant clumps up
Wind cannot usually carry the clumps

4. Seeds and Seed Pods The plant produces seed pods as its fruit
The seeds inside are very fluffy and silky that float on the wind
The seeds can travel up to 100 feet from the plant

5. Leaves Leaves are 2-10 inches long Smooth on top and fuzzy on bottom
Leaves are opposite

6. The Monarchs
The monarch butterfly cannot complete its life cycle without the milkweed
That means there will be lots of monarchs around this plant and the garden

7. Climate The milkweed likes warm climates
It will survive in clay soil and partial sun
It will be great for our garden

8. Sap The milkweed oozes a sap from any cut surface
Sap is poisonous, so don’t drink it!

9. Location Very common in the Chicago-land area
Commonly found in old fields and next
to roads

10. Other Insects the milkweed attracts
A type of weevil feeds on the milkweed
Several moths are attracted to the milkweed

11. Reference List
Google. (2012). Milkweed pictures. google.com