# Milkweed in Florida

> 24 milkweed species are recorded in Florida.

Source: https://milkweedusa.com/states/florida/  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Milkweed USA)

## Overview

Florida holds a resident non-migratory monarch population in the south alongside migrants passing through the panhandle, and its native flora includes aquatic, pinewoods, largeflower and velvetleaf milkweed. Tropical milkweed is the state’s biggest monarch conservation problem, because it never dies back and OE parasite loads build to damaging levels.

- Species recorded: 24
- USDA hardiness zones: 8a–11a
- Monarch flyway: eastern
- Best time to sow seed outdoors: November to January

## Species recorded in Florida

| Common name | Scientific name | Native | Height | Bloom |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | Yes | 3 ft–5 ft | June to September |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | May to September |
| Green Antelopehorn | Asclepias viridis | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | April to July |
| Aquatic Milkweed | Asclepias perennis | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | May to September |
| Pinewoods Milkweed | Asclepias humistrata | Yes | 8 in–2 ft | March to June |
| Whorled Milkweed | Asclepias verticillata | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | June to September |
| Clasping Milkweed | Asclepias amplexicaulis | Yes | 1.5 ft–3 ft | May to July |
| White Milkweed | Asclepias variegata | Yes | 1.5 ft–3.5 ft | May to July |
| Fewflower Milkweed | Asclepias lanceolata | Yes | 2 ft–5 ft | May to August |
| Green Comet Milkweed | Asclepias viridiflora | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | May to August |
| Red Milkweed | Asclepias rubra | Yes | 2 ft–4 ft | June to July |
| Feay’s Milkweed | Asclepias feayi | Yes | 8 in–2 ft | April to September |
| Balloon Plant | Gomphocarpus physocarpus | No | 3 ft–6 ft | May to October |
| Tropical Milkweed | Asclepias curassavica | No | 2 ft–4 ft | nearly year-round in frost-free areas |
| Velvetleaf Milkweed | Asclepias tomentosa | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | April to July |
| Pineland Milkweed | Asclepias obovata | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | June to August |
| Carolina Milkweed | Asclepias cinerea | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | May to August |
| Curtiss’ Milkweed | Asclepias curtissii | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | April to September |
| Giant Milkweed | Calotropis procera | No | 6 ft–12 ft | nearly year-round in frost-free areas |
| Michaux’s Milkweed | Asclepias michauxii | Yes | 8 in–1.7 ft | April to July |
| Largeflower Milkweed | Asclepias connivens | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | May to August |
| Longleaf Milkweed | Asclepias longifolia | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | April to July |
| Savannah Milkweed | Asclepias pedicellata | Yes | 6 in–1.5 ft | April to September |
| Southern Milkweed | Asclepias viridula | Yes | 1 ft–2.5 ft | May to August |

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Milkweed in Florida. https://milkweedusa.com/states/florida/