About Asclepias variegata L.
Asclepias variegata L. is a perennial herb. Its stems grow to between 20 and 100 centimeters in height. Its leaves are most commonly opposite, arranged in 2 to 5 pairs, and range from 5 to 14 centimeters in length. The plant produces small white flowers with purplish centers, which are crowded into round, terminal clusters. Asclepias variegata is most commonly found in upland woodlands and mesic hammocks, and it also grows on bluffs and in savannas. It often grows in sandy soils, and prefers higher light levels. It commonly occurs alongside pine, hickory, oak, and sweetgum, among other species. This species flowers in early summer, and fruiting has been observed from late summer into fall. Asclepias variegata has a deep taproot that lets it regenerate after fire. It has been found in pinelands and pine-oak-hickory stands that are regularly treated with prescribed burns.
