Flower profile
Broadleaf milkweed
Asclepias latifolia
Broadleaf milkweed (Asclepias latifolia) is a flowering plant in the Apocynaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.
Broadleaf milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Mexico
Quick look
Asclepias latifolia is a species of milkweed, also known by the common name broadleaf milkweed.
- 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 10 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 989 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #51 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
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
- 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
- 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?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
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 broadleaf milkweed in 10 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah.
New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, Grant, Harding, Lincoln, Mora, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel, Socorro, Union.
Names, range and relatives
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 156 counties across 9 states; the most are in Texas (51), Kansas (49), New Mexico (14).
Other Asclepias on Bloomipedia (16): Common milkweed, Butterfly milkweed, Swamp milkweed, Green antelopehorns, Antelopehorn milkweed, Showy milkweed, Narrowleaf milkweed, Green comet milkweed, Zizotes milkweed, Tropical milkweed.
More from the Apocynaceae family (28 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser periwinkle, Greater periwinkle, Spreading dogbane, Pearl milkweed, Madagascar periwinkle, Honey-vine climbing milkweed, Hartweg's climbing milkweed, Oleander.
More New Mexico flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASLA4.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias latifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias latifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
- New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias latifolia (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.