Species › Plants › Showy Milkweed

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

CommonPlant
Illustration of Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy Milkweed lives up to its name with large, fragrant pink flowers that attract a wide range of pollinators. It is a critical plant for monarch butterflies and adds beauty to any landscape.

Habitat
Found in open areas such as fields, roadsides, and prairies.
Diet
Supports monarch butterflies and is visited by bees and other pollinators.
How common
Common

Best time to see a Showy Milkweed

The best time to see a Showy Milkweed is June–July, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 25,314 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Showy Milkweed? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Showy Milkweed sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Showy Milkweed?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More plants

Showy Tick Trefoil
Showy Tick Trefoil
Desmodium canadense
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
Shrubby St. John's-wort
Shrubby St. John's-wort
Hypericum prolificum
Shumard Oak
Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
Sidebells Pyrola
Sidebells Pyrola
Orthilia secunda
Sideoats Grama
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Silk Tassel Bush
Silk Tassel Bush
Garrya elliptica
Silktop Dalea
Silktop Dalea
Dalea aurea