Flytrap Dogbane

This plant attracts bees and butterflies. In particular it is a larval host and nectar source for the Monarch (Danaus plexippus). (NPIN, 2009)

Blooms June through July. (Hultman, 1978) Blooms from June-August. (NPIN, 2009)

Spreads very rapidly from creeping underground stems. (NPIN, 2009) It is clone-forming. (UW, 2009)

This plant is native to Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48 United States. (USDA PLANTS, 2009)

USA: AL , AK , AZ , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , GA , ID , IL , IN , IA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MO , MT , NE , NV , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WA , WV , WI , WY , DC (NPIN, 2009)

Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK (NPIN, 2009)

Native Distribution: Nf. to B.C., s. to GA mts. & AZ (NPIN, 2009)

Often borders oak thickets on the old prairie. (Hultman, 1978) Native habitat is forest, woodland, forest dge, prairie, meadow, and field. (NPIN, 2009) Habitat is upland woods. (UW, 2009)

This is a perennial. (NPIN, 2009)

This plant can be weedy or invasive. (USDA PLANTS, 2009)

Overall This is a fragrant, shrub-like plant. (Hultman, 1978) It is widely branching and bushy. It sets a deep tap root. (NPIN, 2009) The plant is erect. (UW, 2009)

Flowers are pale pink. Clusters of nodding, bell-shaped flowers hang from the end of hooked stalks. The interior of the flower is striped with deep rose. (Hultman, 1978) Small groups of tiny, pink, bell-shaped flowers are near the branch tips. The flowers’ fragrance is reminiscent of lilac. It bears numerous small pink, nodding, bell-like flowers. Flowers are pink outside, fragrant, and striped inside with deeper pink. They are hermaphroditic. (NPIN, 2009) Flowers are pink marked with red inside. The are 5-parted, bell- shaped, and nodding. Petals are spreading or curved backward. Inflorescence is a branched cluster (cyme). The main cyme is terminal, others are from the upper leaf axils. (UW, 2009)

Fruit are paired, long, and very narrow pods with seeds on silky hair. (UW, 2009)

Leaves are oval shaped and set in pairs. (Hultman, 1978) The plant bears opposite, oval leaves. Milky juice exudes from broken stems and leaves. Leaves are simple, pinnately veined, and glabrous. The leaf apex is acute and the base rounded. (NPIN, 2009) Leaves are opposite, stalked, mostly drooping, and usually with hairs below. (UW, 2009)

Stems are ruddy and forking repeatedly, giving the appearance of no main stem. They yield a milky juice when broken. (Hultman, 1978) Milky juice exudes from broken stems and leaves. (NPIN, 2009) The plant has many branches, often with no main stem. (UW, 2009)

Vertebrate poisons: mammals. (USDA GRIN, 2002) HAZARDOUS: Some part of these plants MAY be known to be mildly to severely toxic to either animals and/or humans. They might cause symptoms either externally or internally. (UW, 2009)

Plant is 1-4' tall. (Hultman, 1978) It is 2-5' tall. (NPIN, 2009) It is 8"-32" tall. (UW, 2009)

Flowers are 5-7 mm long. (NPIN, 2009) Flowers are 1/4"-3/8" wide. (UW, 2009)

Fruit is 15 cm long. (NPIN, 2009)

Leaves are 1.3"- 3.5" long. (UW, 2009)

Tough stem fibers were used by pioneers as a substitute for hemp. (Hultman, 1978) Women of some tribes rolled dogbane stem fibers on their legs to make a fine thread. This was said to be finer and stronger than the best cotton thread. It was used for sewing and for making twine, nets, fabric and bowstrings. The poisonous, acrid sap was said to stimulate hair growth by irritating the follicles, but people with sensitive skin are more likely to develop blisters than hair. (Kershaw via NPIN, 2009) The names comes from the Greek for "away from dog," i.e. noxious to dogs, in reference to its ancient use as a dog poison, hence dogbane. (UW, 2009)

Outer bark or rind was used as the finest thread material. Used to bathe dogs for mange. Milk from leaves and stems was used for warts. The root is poisonous in large doses. Root was used as snuff, herbal steam, poultice or in decoction for headache and to increase lactation. Decoctions of root variously used for convulsions, given only to infants for colds, poured into ear for soreness, taken for heart palpitations, as a liver medicine, for evacuation of the placenta, and for stomach cramps. Dried, pulverized root used in various ways for insanity, dizziness. Roots eaten during the medicine lodge ceremony. Leaves chewed and the juice and pulp swallowed or dried leaves smoked as an aphrodisiac. (UM, 2009)