General Culture:

Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers sandy soil. Aggressive plant that often grows in the wild in colonies and can be very aggressive in cultivation.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

A bushy member of the dogbane family that features alternate, lance-shaped leaves on upright, stiff stems with terminal clusters of very tiny, whitish flowers that bloom in summer. All parts of this dogbane (related to the milkweed family) exude a milky juice when bruised. Although this plant is considered toxic to humans (and the bane of dogs), the roots were commonly harvested in the 19th and early 20th centuries for a variety of folk medicine and medical purposes. A Missouri native that typically grows in the wild in dry rocky or open woods, glades and prairies. Stems are fibrous (cannabinum meaning hemp) and were once used to make rope. Very attractive to butterflies.