Purple Milkweed

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) is in the Dogbane Family family (Apocynaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 932 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.

Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Purple Milkweed: observations by month (U.S.)

About Purple Milkweed

Asclepias purpurascens, 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 (Asclepias syriaca). The plant gets its name from the flowers that first develop a pink color but then turn darker purple as they mature. Unlike common milkweed, purple milkweed prefers some shade and is considered...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Purple Milkweed by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Dogbane Family)

Butterfly MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa

Common MilkweedAsclepias syriaca

Lesser PeriwinkleVinca minor

Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnata

Showy MilkweedAsclepias speciosa

Green AntelopehornsAsclepias viridis

Narrowleaf MilkweedAsclepias fascicularis

Spreading DogbaneApocynum androsaemifolium

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