Milkweed is a perennial plant whose species are native primarily to North America. It can be found growing in prairies, pastures, along roadsides and on the banks or edges of ponds and lakes. As suggested by its name, milkweed contains an abundance of milky sap in its leaves, stems and pods. A healthy plant can reach nearly 5 feet, thriving in full to partial sun in all types of soil.

Starting early July, over 120 species flower into beautiful umbrella-like clusters of pinks, purples, whites, oranges, reds and yellows that fill the air with a delicate sweet odor. In September and October, the flowers develop into spindle-shaped pods and begin to dry. When the pods crack, a fluffy tuft of down-like fiber is dispersed along with little brown seeds. This fiber, known as the milkweed silk, was used to fill jackets during World War II and is still used to fill some natural fiber pillows.

Milkweed sap contains an alkaloid, a bitter-tasting chemical that is distasteful and unpleasant to grazing animals and insects, discouraging them from feeding on it. The Monarch butterfly is one of a group of milkweed butterflies whose larval forms feed on the plant. The larvae have built-in biochemical mechanisms that allow them to consume and store the toxin in their tissue, making them distasteful to potential predators.

Very young milkweed shoots can be gathered and safely boiled for human consumption and are considered a delicacy, even tastier than asparagus, by Native Americans. For centuries the milkweed has been used for medicinal purposes. Roots and stems were boiled and ground to treat a variety of chest problems, dress wounds, treatment for fevers, bronchitis, rheumatism, colic and even "the hysteric passion" disease.