Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) is in the Dogbane Family family (Apocynaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,011 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Green Comet Milkweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Green Comet Milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora, common names green milkweed, green comet milkweed, and green-flower milkweed is a widely distributed species of milkweed known from much of the eastern and central United States from Connecticut to Georgia to Arizona to Montana, as well as southern Canada.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Green Comet Milkweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 354 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 110 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 80 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 46 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Mississippi | 35 | June | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 31 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 31 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 25 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 24 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 23 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Colorado | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 19 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 17 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 16 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 15 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 14 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 12 | June | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 9 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 9 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Virginia | 9 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kansas | 8 | June | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 7 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Carolina | 5 | July | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Dogbane Family)
Butterfly Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Lesser Periwinkle
Swamp Milkweed
Showy Milkweed
Green Antelopehorns
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Spreading Dogbane
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Green Comet Milkweed?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Green Comet Milkweed most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Georgia, Minnesota.