Compare milkweed species

All 72 species in one table. Click a column heading to sort.


Antelope Horns Asclepias asperula	1 ft–2 ft	green, cream, maroon	March to July	Dry
Aquatic Milkweed Asclepias perennis	1 ft–3 ft	white, pink	May to September	Wet
Balloon Plant Gomphocarpus physocarpus	3 ft–6 ft	white, cream	May to October	Average
Bract Milkweed Asclepias brachystephana	6 in–1.5 ft	maroon, purple	April to August	Dry
Broadleaf Milkweed Asclepias latifolia	1 ft–3 ft	green, cream	May to August	Dry
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa	1 ft–3 ft	orange, yellow, red	May to September	Dry / Average
California Milkweed Asclepias californica	1 ft–3 ft	maroon, purple	April to July	Dry
Carolina Milkweed Asclepias cinerea	1 ft–2.5 ft	mauve, gray	May to August	Dry
Clasping Milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis	1.5 ft–3 ft	pink, green, mauve	May to July	Dry
Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca	3 ft–6 ft	pink, mauve, white	June to August	Dry / Average
Curtiss’ Milkweed Asclepias curtissii	1 ft–3 ft	white, green	April to September	Dry
Desert Milkweed Asclepias erosa	2 ft–5 ft	cream, yellow	April to September	Dry
Dwarf Milkweed Asclepias involucrata	4 in–10 in	green, cream	April to June	Dry
Eastwood’s Milkweed Asclepias eastwoodiana	6 in–1.2 ft	maroon, cream	May to June	Dry
Emory’s Milkweed Asclepias emoryi	4 in–1.2 ft	green, cream	April to September	Dry
Engelmann’s Milkweed Asclepias engelmanniana	2 ft–5 ft	green, yellow	June to August	Dry
Feay’s Milkweed Asclepias feayi	8 in–2 ft	white, pink	April to September	Dry
Fewflower Milkweed Asclepias lanceolata	2 ft–5 ft	orange, red	May to August	Wet
Fourleaf Milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia	1 ft–2 ft	pink, white	May to June	Dry / Average
Giant Milkweed Calotropis procera	6 ft–12 ft	white, purple	nearly year-round in frost-free areas	Dry
Green Antelopehorn Asclepias viridis	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, purple	April to July	Dry / Average
Green Comet Milkweed Asclepias viridiflora	1 ft–3 ft	green	May to August	Dry
Hall’s Milkweed Asclepias hallii	1.5 ft–3 ft	pink, mauve	June to August	Dry
Heartleaf Milkweed Asclepias cordifolia	1 ft–3 ft	maroon, purple	May to July	Dry
Largeflower Milkweed Asclepias connivens	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, white	May to August	Wet / Average
Lemmon’s Milkweed Asclepias lemmonii	8 in–2 ft	green, purple	July to September	Dry / Average
Longhood Milkweed Asclepias macrotis	8 in–1.7 ft	green, cream	April to August	Dry
Longleaf Milkweed Asclepias longifolia	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, purple, white	April to July	Wet / Average
Mahogany Milkweed Asclepias hypoleuca	1 ft–2.5 ft	maroon, cream	June to September	Dry
Mead’s Milkweed Asclepias meadii	1 ft–2 ft	green, cream	May to June	Average / Dry
Michaux’s Milkweed Asclepias michauxii	8 in–1.7 ft	pink, green	April to July	Dry / Average
Mojave Milkweed Asclepias nyctaginifolia	6 in–1.5 ft	green, cream	April to June	Dry
Narrowleaf Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis	2 ft–4 ft	white, pink, green	May to September	Dry / Average
Nodding Milkweed Asclepias glaucescens	1 ft–3 ft	green, white	June to September	Dry / Average
Oval-leaf Milkweed Asclepias ovalifolia	8 in–1.7 ft	white, green	June to July	Dry / Average
Pallid Milkweed Asclepias cryptoceras	4 in–1 ft	cream, pink	April to June	Dry
Pineland Milkweed Asclepias obovata	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, yellow	June to August	Dry
Pineneedle Milkweed Asclepias linaria	1.5 ft–4 ft	white, cream	March to October	Dry
Pinewoods Milkweed Asclepias humistrata	8 in–2 ft	pink, white	March to June	Dry
Plains Milkweed Asclepias pumila	4 in–1 ft	white, cream	June to September	Dry
Poison Milkweed Asclepias subverticillata	1 ft–3 ft	white, green	June to September	Dry
Poke Milkweed Asclepias exaltata	3 ft–6 ft	white, green	June to July	Average
Prairie Milkweed Asclepias sullivantii	2 ft–4 ft	pink, rose	June to July	Average / Wet
Prostrate Milkweed Asclepias prostrata	2 in–6 in	green, white	March to September	Dry
Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens	2 ft–4 ft	purple, magenta	May to July	Average / Dry
Red Milkweed Asclepias rubra	2 ft–4 ft	red, pink	June to July	Wet
Rusby’s Milkweed Asclepias rusbyi	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, white	May to August	Dry
Rush Milkweed Asclepias subulata	2 ft–6 ft	cream, white	nearly year-round in frost-free areas	Dry
Ruth’s Milkweed Asclepias ruthiae	4 in–1 ft	pink, cream	April to June	Dry
Sand Milkweed Asclepias arenaria	1 ft–2.5 ft	cream, green	June to August	Dry
Savannah Milkweed Asclepias pedicellata	6 in–1.5 ft	yellow, green	April to September	Wet / Average
Serpentine Milkweed Asclepias solanoana	4 in–10 in	cream, pink	May to July	Dry
Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa	2 ft–5 ft	pink, rose	May to August	Average / Dry
Slimleaf Milkweed Asclepias stenophylla	1.5 ft–3.3 ft	cream, green	June to August	Dry
Slimpod Milkweed Asclepias quinquedentata	1 ft–2.5 ft	cream, green	July to September	Dry
Southern Milkweed Asclepias viridula	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, white	May to August	Wet
Sperry’s Milkweed Asclepias sperryi	8 in–1.7 ft	cream, green	May to August	Dry
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata	3 ft–5 ft	pink, rose, white	June to September	Wet / Average
Tall Green Milkweed Asclepias hirtella	2 ft–4 ft	green, white	June to August	Dry / Average
Texas Milkweed Asclepias texana	1 ft–3 ft	white	May to September	Dry / Average
Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curassavica	2 ft–4 ft	red, orange, yellow	nearly year-round in frost-free areas	Average
Tufted Milkweed Asclepias nummularia	2 in–8 in	cream, green	April to August	Dry
Velvetleaf Milkweed Asclepias tomentosa	1 ft–2.5 ft	green, cream	April to July	Dry
Welsh’s Milkweed Asclepias welshii	1.5 ft–4 ft	cream, pink	May to July	Dry
Wheel Milkweed Asclepias uncialis	2 in–6 in	maroon, green	April to June	Dry
White Milkweed Asclepias variegata	1.5 ft–3.5 ft	white	May to July	Dry / Average
Whitestem Milkweed Asclepias albicans	3 ft–10 ft	cream, white	January to May and November to December	Dry
Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata	1 ft–2.5 ft	white, green	June to September	Dry / Average
Woolly Milkweed Asclepias lanuginosa	4 in–1 ft	cream, green	May to June	Dry
Woolly Milkweed Asclepias vestita	1 ft–3 ft	cream, yellow	April to July	Dry
Woollypod Milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa	2 ft–4 ft	cream, white	May to August	Dry
Zizotes Milkweed Asclepias oenotheroides	8 in–2 ft	green, cream	March to October	Dry / Average

Monarch value is an editorial rating combining leaf area, larval survival and regional importance.