Butterflyweed AKA butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), not to be confused with the invasive bush (Buddleja spp.), is a native milkweed in Ontario. Although some milkweed species are edible, butterfly weed is nowhere near the top of that list. Slightly edible with processing, and more along the lines of a starvation food, I’m skipping having a section … [Read more…]
Swamp milkweed is not as edible and medicinal as its common relation. So we’re all the more talking about how much of an all-star this plant is for pollinator gardens and native landscaping. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) can be found in the margins of swamps, marshes and other low wet areas. It’s not as prolific … [Read more…]
In Chippewa, ini’niwunj meaning “man like”, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a monarch of the edible and medicinal wild plant kingdom. Let’s cultivate this king of herbs for the butterflies more than we eat it, please! Milkweeds folk names are somewhat all over the place, as there are tons of varieties, and many probably don’t … [Read more…]