Illustration of milkweed
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd 
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers
Examples of milkweed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once, Lake County’s prairies were thick with milkweed.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Federal wildlife officials also have proposed what’s known as a 4(d) rule, which would allow exceptions from prohibitions, including allowing activities that boost or protect monarch habitat — such as planting milkweed — and the rearing and release of small numbers of butterflies.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Just make sure the milkweed is native to your region — this resource helps.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
To attract butterflies, consider planting milkweed, verbena and aster.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for milkweed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Federal wildlife officials also have proposed what’s known as a 4(d) rule, which would allow exceptions from prohibitions, including allowing activities that boost or protect monarch habitat — such as planting milkweed — and the rearing and release of small numbers of butterflies.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Just make sure the milkweed is native to your region — this resource helps.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
To attract butterflies, consider planting milkweed, verbena and aster.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for milkweed
Cite this Entry
“Milkweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milkweed. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmil-ˌkwēd
: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters
Medical Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share