Milkweed

While I will be mostly referring to Common Milkweed in this article, there is some growing and ecological information that pertains to many milkweed species.

In Michigan there are at least 10-13 species recorded, and all are food for pollinators but only one is what we humans are most likely to eat.

Let’s check it out:

Plant Profile:

Scientific Name: Asclepias sp. (Especially A. syriaca)

Preferred Habitat: Various soils, on the Great Lakes beaches, on forest edges, roadsides, open meadows, and sunny areas (not in forests generally)

Edible Parts: Shoots, flowers, pods, young seeds

Distribution: There are numerous Asclepias species throughout the United States and Central America (see map) however, common milkweed (A. syriaca) is mostly only present in the greater Midwest, East Coast, and Great Plains regions.

Harvest Season: Spring to late summer or so

Key Identifiers: Common milkweed has distinct ovate leaves with defined veins and stand about 2-3ft tall. The flowers are globe-like clusters of tiny pink/lavender flowers that bloom around mid-summer.

Toxic Look-Alikes: Dogbane is a beautiful and useful plant, but is bitter and toxic. The leaves can look very similar to milkweed, but the flowers are white and sparse not pink/lavender and arranged in a ball shape. As dogbane gets older it also tends to branch out farther like a shrub and the stem gets woody.

I would also beware of other milkweed species as some can be bitter or mildly toxic. Stay away from species with thin leaves!

Medicinal Uses:

The sap can be used for skin conditions such as warts, the roots can be chewed as a remedy for dysentery, and milkweed root and leaf tea can suppress coughs, ease asthma, and treat typhus fever.

Uses

At first glance the plant seems almost alien and unlike any vegetable you’ve probably ever had (and you’d be right!) but common milkweed has a pretty wide range of uses as a vegetable!

First I’d like to note that I would avoid eating milkweed raw since it has a milky white sap (hence the name) that can cause skin irritations for many people. I’ve gotten some on the skin before and never had an issue, but be aware of that potential.

The young shoots can be eaten like asparagus and actually taste smoother and more buttery.

The leaves can be cooked and eaten like most cooked greens, and are tender and mild when sautéed!

The buds can be eaten like broccoli but have a more poppy texture that makes them fun to eat. The flavor is fairly standard green vegetable flavor but the texture really adds an interesting mouth-feel that makes it more enjoyable.

The flowers are technically also edible but you won’t get pods if you pick all the flowers off.

The pods can only be eaten young (they get too fibrous and bitter as they get older). These taste much like okra but without the slimy texture when cooked. Aim to only get pods that are about 1-1.5 inches long.

When the pods are older and they start forming seeds inside, the seeds can also be eaten! As long as they’re not fuzzy yet and are completely white you can use them similar to tofu or cheese in dishes. I’ve seen people adding this to pasta dishes, it really takes on whatever flavor you’re cooking it with. It kind of has the same texture as cottage cheese almost which is really fun!

Finally when it dies and goes to seed, the seeds can be replanted and the stalks can be harvested and processed for fiber to use in textiles.

I know there has been some experimentation with making milkweed textiles but I’m not sure what significant developments have happened with that particular use.

Growth Habits

Milkweeds around me in Michigan tend to not be picky. They kind of grow wherever and do their own thing, so as long as you water some seeds while they’re young I see no reason why they shouldn’t grow for you.

Milkweeds are the sole food for monarch butterflies which are declining rapidly in numbers. These plants make it possible for them to avoid predators since they are immune to the toxic compounds in the sap which makes them bitter to any animal that would otherwise eat them.

Milkweed are a great pollinator attractor species to grow in your garden since it attracts bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, and hoverflies among others.

Additional Information

There are multiple species of milkweed (around 200 worldwide). We are discussing common milkweed today (A. syriaca) but there are other broad-leafed milkweeds that are edible in other regions, do your own research in local guide books to find the best edible milkweed in your area!

I would avoid eating any of the thin-leafed milkweeds and any that taste kind of bitter since it could upset your stomach.

Otherwise, like any wild food try only a little at a time!

Where to Buy Seeds:

As far as I know there are no known cultivars of milkweed, BUT here are some sources for milkweed seeds:

American Meadows

Prairie Moon Nursery

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