The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa
— Milkweed family, North America —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 9, 2021
Butterfly weed is used for both fiber and medicine. Like other milkweeds, butterfly weeds have seeds that drift away on the wind with a silky parachute called floss.
Did you know that American children helped out during World War II by collecting floss from common milkweed? It provided stuffing for U.S. Navy life vests.
Erected by Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 38° 53.455′ N, 77° 1.776′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. Marker is on Madison Drive Northwest, 0.1 miles west of 12th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Healing (here, next to this marker); Crape myrtle (here, next to this marker); Blazing star (here, next to this marker); Memory (a few steps from this marker); Discovery (a few steps from this marker); Coneflower (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Butterfly weed (a few steps from this marker); Ingenuity (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. An identical marker stands a few feet away.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 9, 2021
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.