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
To bring butterflies, bees, and other important pollinators into your outdoor area, consider adding the sun-loving milkweed.
—
Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
The lush land in and around the farm was known for its flora − summersweet, viburnim, blueberries and milkweed.
—Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
However, all milkweeds are perennial and those that go dormant come to life again the following spring.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
The annual online plant sale is open and features milkweeds and native plants for pickup in May.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for milkweed
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Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
The lush land in and around the farm was known for its flora − summersweet, viburnim, blueberries and milkweed.
—Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
However, all milkweeds are perennial and those that go dormant come to life again the following spring.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
The annual online plant sale is open and features milkweeds and native plants for pickup in May.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026
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 May. 2026.
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
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