Bloomipedia
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Photo: Colin Croft via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native in the lower 48

Showy milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

22states
10of our state lists
27,287U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Asclepias speciosa is a milky-sapped perennial plant in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), known commonly as the showy milkweed and is found in the western half of North America.

  • 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 22 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 9,858 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #3 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,506 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #2 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,214 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #2 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

Showy milkweed gift ideas

Handmade showy 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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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,329 records)
Bloom time in each of our 10 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–July9,858
UtahNativeMay–August3,506
IdahoNativeJune–August2,214
MontanaNativeJune–July1,054
NevadaNativeMay–August875
WyomingNativeJune–August739
New MexicoNativeJune–July660
South DakotaNativeJune–July617
NebraskaNativeJune–July415
North DakotaNativeJune–August389

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (slight, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “slight.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. USDA PLANTS

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

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 showy milkweed in 22 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Adams, Alamosa, Archuleta, Bent, Boulder, Cheyenne, Conejos, Crowley, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Gilpin, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Phillips, Pitkin, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Butte, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Madison, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.

More Colorado flowers

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms: June–August
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Native

🌼 Blooms: June–August
Antelopehorn milkweed (Asclepias asperula)

Antelopehorn milkweed

Asclepias asperula

Native

🌼 Blooms: April–June

Sources