Cynanchum Laeve Honeyvine

Cynanchum laeve, commonly known as honeyvine milkweed, is a fast-growing, twining perennial vine native to North America, notable for its smooth, opposite leaves and ability to climb fences, trees, and other plants. Unlike many other milkweed species, it lacks the characteristic milky sap, making it a unique member of the Asclepiadaceae family. It produces clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers that attract pollinators, especially monarch butterflies, which use it as a larval host plant. The vine’s slender, winding stems can reach up to 15 feet in length, and its elongated seed pods split open to release silky-haired seeds that disperse by wind. Though beneficial to pollinators, its aggressive spreading habit can make it a nuisance in gardens and agricultural fields.