White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)

Photographic Location: Short Springs State Natural Area

Judy and I had a great day at Short Springs State Natural Area. Short Springs is a 420-acre natural area located in Coffee County approximately three and a half miles northeast of Tullahoma. The natural area provides an excellent contrast between Highland Rim and Central Basin geology and vegetation. When descending along the Machine Falls trail, a visitor can observe exposed black Chattanooga shale at mid-slope, which is a formation that delineates the Central Basin from the Highland Rim. Thickets of mountain laurel grow on the upper slopes under a dry oak-hickory forest canopy that is characteristic of Highland Rim vegetation. The lower slopes and riparian areas along Bobo Creek support towering sycamore, buckeye, magnolia, beech, and tulip poplar trees with a rich shrub layer and herbaceous cover.

This flower is in the Asclepiadaceae Family (Milkweed Family). It has very showy flowers and it should be cultivated more often. The flowers are mostly white, except for a narrow purple ring between the petals and the hooded corona. Because of this it is sometimes called Variegated Milkweed. This is the source of another common name, Red-Ring Milkweed.

For more information about this wildflower, Click Here.