Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Common milkweed is a striking 4' plant with lightly scented large flowers and a long bloom time. It spreads aggressively by seed and underground rhizomes and can withstand drought due to its taproot. After a dramatic blooming season in early summer it tends to look awful later in the summer, when the aphids swarm it. But don't worry, it will be back the next year. Common milkweed provides nectar for many butterflies and other insects, and its leaves provide food for Monarch butterfly larvae, who rely on the Asclepias genus as their sole host plants. Prefers full sun and well drained soil.