Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has a very strong, sweet scent that attracts a variety of visitors, including butterflies, bees, beetles, flies, and wasps. On the underside of the leaves, one may find small pearl-like structures, which are the eggs of the monarch butterfly. When these eggs hatch, the young caterpillars feed on the leaves of the plant. This relationship highlights the importance of common milkweed in the ecosystem, as it provides essential nourishment for monarch butterflies during their larval stage, while also supporting a diverse range of pollinators.

Milkweed flowers, including those of common milkweed, feature a characteristic structure with five reflexed petals and five tubular hoods, each with a horn that arches over the central column. This central column, called the gynostegium, contains both the male (stamens) and female (carpels) reproductive parts. The intricate arrangement of petals, hoods, and horns plays a crucial role in the plant's specialized pollination process.

The spindle-shaped seed pods form in the fall and contain dark brown seeds attached to silken, fluffy parachute structures. These parachute-like structures enable the seeds to be carried by the wind, facilitating their dispersal. You may find these feathers float by on an autumn day.