Flower profile
Purple milkweed
Asclepias purpurascens
Purple milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Missouri it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Missouri
Quick look
Asclepias purpurascens, or the purple milkweed, is a herbaceous plant species. It is in the genus Asclepias, making it a type of milkweed. It is native to the Eastern, Southern and Midwestern United States similar to the range of the common milkweed. The plant gets its name from the flowers that first develop a pink color but then turn darker purple as they mature.
- It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 32 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Missouri. NatureServe
- In Missouri, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 773 research-grade sightings of it in Missouri, ranking #81 among the 109 flowers on our Missouri list. iNaturalist
Purple milkweed gift ideas
Handmade purple milkweed gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Purple milkweed art print
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Purple milkweed greeting card
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Purple milkweed mug
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Purple milkweed earrings
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Purple milkweed embroidery pattern
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Purple milkweed sticker
When does it bloom?
In Missouri, most flowering sightings come in May–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Missouri
- Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S2), DC (SX), DE (S2), GA (S1), LA (S1), MA (S1), MD (S2), MI (S2), MS (SH), NC (S1), NE (S2), NH (SH), NY (S2), OK (S1), RI (SH), TN (S1), WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Symptoms they list: “Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Milkweed” (Asclepias species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, profound depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea are common; may be followed by seizures, difficulty breathing, rapid, weak pulse, dilated pupils, kidney or liver failure, coma… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records purple milkweed in 32 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
Missouri counties with USDA records: Adair, Barton, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Carter, Cass, Cedar, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Dunklin, Franklin, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howell, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, Saline, Scotland, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wright.
More Missouri flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASPU2.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias purpurascens: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias purpurascens (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
- Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias purpurascens (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Dominic via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.