# Feay’s Milkweed (Asclepias feayi)

> A Florida endemic of pine flatwoods and sandhill with hair-fine leaves and delicate white flowers flushed pink, so slender that the plant almost disappears into the wiregrass.

Source: https://milkweedusa.com/species/feays-milkweed/  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Milkweed USA)

## Summary

A Florida endemic of pine flatwoods and sandhill with hair-fine leaves and delicate white flowers flushed pink, so slender that the plant almost disappears into the wiregrass.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias feayi Chapm. ex A. Gray |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Feay’s Milkweed, Florida Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 8 in–2 ft |
| Spread | 8 in–1.3 ft |
| Flower color | white, pink |
| Bloom period | April to September |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 8-10 |
| Leaf arrangement | opposite |
| Leaf shape | threadlike |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Deep taproot, resents transplanting |
| Seed stratification | None required |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 3 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 3 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 2 |
| US states recorded | Florida |

## Identification

- Extremely fine, thread-like opposite leaves.
- Small white flowers with a pink or lavender tinge, in airy clusters.
- Florida pine flatwoods, sandhill and dry prairie, statewide except the far west.

## Ecology

A fire-maintained flatwoods species and a genuine Florida endemic, used by monarchs and queens through the long southern season.

## Growing

Occasionally offered by Florida native nurseries. Needs sand, sun and no irrigation. Fresh seed germinates without chilling.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:94274-1
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170275
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143039
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_feayi
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20feayi.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20feayi

## Photographs

- Asclepias feayi 1a (jimduggan24, CC BY 2.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_feayi_1a.jpg
- Asclepias feayi - Boyd Hill, St Petersburg, FL - August 2025 (Dsandii, CC BY-SA 4.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_feayi_-_Boyd_Hill,_St_Petersburg,_FL_-_August_2025.jpg
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in Alva, FL 33920, USA (Jay Horn, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45307435
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in Sarasota, FL 34240, USA (Scott Allen Davis, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/196735863
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in Unnamed Road, St Cloud, FL 34771, USA (Valerie Anderson, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12194297
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in Florida, US (Brandon Corder, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118830752
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in North South Trail North Loop, Orlando, FL, US (Public domain (CC0), CC0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/309281554
- Feay’s Milkweed photographed in Yeehaw, FL 34972, USA (Laura Gaudette, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114989776

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Feay’s Milkweed (Asclepias feayi). https://milkweedusa.com/species/feays-milkweed/