Apocynum cannabinum
Object Details
- Description
- This native plant grows across much of North America, and can take on weedy qualities. It is excellent for preventing erosion, and attracts many pollinators.
- Hardiness
- -30 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Bees, birds, butterflies, moths
- Bloom Time
- July to August
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- Fibers of plant have been used by American Indians to make thread, rope, nets, and various other material.
- Medicinal / Pharmaceutical
- American Indians used parts of this plant to treat heart conditions, to induce vomiting and as a laxative, as a wash to prevent hair loss, for headaches, sluggish bowels, liver disease, indigestion, rheumatism, and syphilis. This plant is highly toxic when used poorly.
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Range
- Canada to USA
- Habitat
- Dry, rocky, or open woods, prairies
- Topic
- Display Gardens
- Living Collections
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Display Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2022-0562A
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Common Name
- Dogbane
- Pö
- Qéemu
- Amy root
- Hemp dogbane
- Indian hemp
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Asteranae
- Order
- Gentianales
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Genus
- Apocynum
- Species
- cannabinum
- Life Form
- Herbaceous perennial
- Bloom Characteristics
- Panicles of green to white, bell-shaped flowers. Flowers are .25" (.6 cm) long.
- Fall Color
- Yellow
- Foliage Characteristics
- Simple, opposite, elliptic to ovate leaves have smooth margins with hairs underneath. Leaves are 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Curved pods are 3-4" (7.6-10.2 cm) long and filled with brown seeds that have small white tufts to help them disperse on the wind.
- Plant Size
- 2-4' tall x 1.5-2.5' wide (60-122 x 45-76 cm)
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2022-0562A