# Milkweed in Missouri

> 17 milkweed species are recorded in Missouri.

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

## Overview

Missouri’s glades, Ozark woodlands and prairie remnants give it exceptional milkweed diversity for a Midwestern state, including green antelopehorn, purple milkweed and federally threatened Mead’s milkweed. Kansas City and St Louis both run large-scale urban monarch habitat programs.

- Species recorded: 17
- USDA hardiness zones: 5b–7a
- Monarch flyway: eastern
- Best time to sow seed outdoors: late October to early December

## Species recorded in Missouri

| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Fourleaf Milkweed | Asclepias quadrifolia | Yes | 1 ft–2 ft | May to June |
| White Milkweed | Asclepias variegata | Yes | 1.5 ft–3.5 ft | May to July |
| Green Comet Milkweed | Asclepias viridiflora | Yes | 1 ft–3 ft | May to August |
| Slimleaf Milkweed | Asclepias stenophylla | Yes | 1.5 ft–3.3 ft | June to August |
| Tall Green Milkweed | Asclepias hirtella | Yes | 2 ft–4 ft | June to August |
| Mead’s Milkweed | Asclepias meadii | Yes | 1 ft–2 ft | May to June |
| Woolly Milkweed | Asclepias lanuginosa | Yes | 4 in–1 ft | May to June |

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Milkweed in Missouri. https://milkweedusa.com/states/missouri/