Milkweed, Common - Asclepias syriaca

This Michigan and UP native perennial, Asclepias syriaca, is also known as Common Milkweed.  It grows to two to four feet tall and needs full sun, but will tolerate any well drained soil, including clay, sand, and poor, dry conditions.  It spreads enthusiastically and is best used where it can be allowed to roam. Those deep rhizomes are especially beneficial when combating erosion. This plant will even help knit dune sand together.
 
In addition to providing nectar for butterflies and other pollinators, it serves as a host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and other beneficial insects.  Recommended as a bird plant for the UP by the National Audubon Society, it is used by hummingbirds, and the fibers from stems and fluff from the seed pods are used by Northern Orioles and many other birds as nest material.
 
One of my favorite features of Common Milkweed is its fragrance. In the evening it releases an intense honey scent. It is hard to believe how fragrant a single plant can be. The fact that it releases scent in the evening likely means that the plant is signaling nocturnal pollinators, such as moths, lightning bugs, or something else, and that it is likely an important nectar source for these important insects.