Milkweed, and it's cousin Butterfly Weed, are some of my favorites. Not only are they host to the Monarch butterfly in infant stage, they have wonderfully shaped flowers. The Common Milkweed has a divine scent: the one time I have seriously attempted distillation I was seeking to capture the volatile oils that make their flowers smell so good. I was, sadly, not successful. Named for the Greek god of healing, Aslcepius, this family of flowers may all be labeled weeds, but I have written them into my stories, and want to establish them in my gardens in time.
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa
