# Milkweed in Minnesota

> 13 milkweed species are recorded in Minnesota.

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

## Overview

Minnesota is one of the highest-value monarch breeding states in the country, with common milkweed in old fields, swamp milkweed in the state’s countless wetlands and prairie milkweed on remnant tallgrass. Its official state butterfly is the monarch.

- Species recorded: 13
- USDA hardiness zones: 3a–5a
- Monarch flyway: eastern
- Best time to sow seed outdoors: late October to early December

## Species recorded in Minnesota

| 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 |
| Showy Milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | Yes | 2 ft–5 ft | May to August |
| Prairie Milkweed | Asclepias sullivantii | Yes | 2 ft–4 ft | June to July |
| Purple Milkweed | Asclepias purpurascens | Yes | 2 ft–4 ft | May to July |
| Poke Milkweed | Asclepias exaltata | Yes | 3 ft–6 ft | June to July |
| Common Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | Yes | 3 ft–6 ft | June to August |
| 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 |
| Oval-leaf Milkweed | Asclepias ovalifolia | Yes | 8 in–1.7 ft | June to July |
| Green Comet Milkweed | Asclepias viridiflora | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | May to August |
| Tall Green Milkweed | Asclepias hirtella | Yes | 2 ft–4 ft | June to August |
| Woolly Milkweed | Asclepias lanuginosa | Yes | 4 in–1 ft | May to June |

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Milkweed in Minnesota. https://milkweedusa.com/states/minnesota/