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Asclepias exaltata

L.

Poke Milkweed

G5Secure Found in 86 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Gregory Hayes, CC BY-NC 4.0
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by Sequoia Janirella Wrens, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Sequoia Janirella Wrens, CC BY-NC 4.0
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by Raymond Cavender, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Raymond Cavender, CC BY-NC 4.0
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). Photo by gglynn, CC BY-NC 4.0, via iNaturalist.
gglynn, CC BY-NC 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.145072
Element CodePDASC020M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderGentianales
FamilyApocynaceae
GenusAsclepias
Other Common Names
Asclépiade très grande (FR) poke milkweed (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-18
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2025-06-18
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Asclepias exaltata is a wide-ranging perennial herb occurring in a variety of habitats across much of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. With a large range extent, more than 1500 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Asclepias exaltata grows throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada but is rare at the edges of its range in Alabama, Missouri, and Quebec (FNA 2023). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 1500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Asclepias exaltata is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Asclepias exaltata grows in "bluffs, summits, hills, slopes, ravines, bottomlands, stream banks, lake shores, moraines, rock outcrops, limestone, alluvium, rich, thin, rocky, and sandy soils, oak, pine-oak, mixed-hardwood, riparian, and cove forests and edges, meadows" (FNA 2023).

Reproduction

"Flowering May–Aug; fruiting May–Oct" (FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - MixedForest EdgeWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS1Yes
OntarioS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New YorkS4Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
New JerseyS3Yes
AlabamaS1Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
VermontS3Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
MissouriS1Yes
KentuckyS4Yes
South CarolinaS2Yes
IllinoisSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
IowaS3Yes
GeorgiaS4Yes
OhioSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
DelawareS2Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
Rhode IslandS1Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
IndianaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undeterminedUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (86)
Georgia (12)
AreaForestAcres
Ben GapChattahoochee National Forest1,292
Big MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,974
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Cedar MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,083
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Patterson GapChattahoochee National Forest1,186
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Tripp BranchChattahoochee National Forest615
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Michigan (1)
AreaForestAcres
Norwich Plains Revised Roadless AreaOttawa National Forest4,360
North Carolina (21)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Mackey MountainPisgah National Forest5,934
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Pennsylvania (3)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Carolina (3)
AreaForestAcres
Big MountainSumter National Forest2,337
Ellicott Rock 1Sumter National Forest301
Ellicott Rock 2Sumter National Forest517
Tennessee (10)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Devil's BackboneCherokee National Forest4,287
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Virginia (22)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beartown Addition AJefferson National Forest1,370
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Horse HeavenJefferson National Forest4,748
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
Mottesheard (VA)Jefferson National Forest2,596
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Saint Marys AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,454
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (11)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Little Allegheny MountainMonongahela National Forest10,514
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Mottesheard (WV)Jefferson National Forest3,964
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Wisconsin (1)
AreaForestAcres
09154 - St. Peters DomeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest4,002
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).