common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) observed in Woodstock, VA 22664, USA
iNaturalist: jdalke
Citizen Science
Common milkweed is the only plant monarch butterflies can lay their eggs on, so knowing where it grows in your region tells you exactly where to look for monarchs — or where to plant milkweed to bring them to your yard.
Someone spotted and documented common milkweed growing in Woodstock, Virginia, and uploaded the sighting to iNaturalist, where it was verified as a confirmed identification. Common milkweed is a native wildflower with large, fragrant pink flower clusters that monarch butterflies depend on to complete their life cycle. Sightings like this help researchers and gardeners map where milkweed is thriving and where it might be disappearing.
Key Findings
Research-grade observation confirmed in Woodstock, VA (ZIP 22664), meeting iNaturalist's verification threshold of multiple agreeing identifications
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) presence documented in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia
Observation adds a georeferenced data point to the community-science record of native milkweed distribution in the mid-Atlantic United States
chevron_right Technical Summary
A research-grade observation of common milkweed was recorded in Woodstock, Virginia, contributing to citizen-science tracking of this native wildflower's distribution across the eastern United States.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of common milkweed in Woodstock, VA 22664, USA.
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Species Mentioned
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Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a species of flowering plant. It is native to southern Canada and much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding the drier parts of the prairies. It is i...