Flower profile
Fewflower milkweed
Asclepias lanceolata
Fewflower milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) is a flowering plant in the Apocynaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–August across the U.S.
Fewflower milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Louisiana it's most often seen in bloom in April–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana
Quick look
Asclepias lanceolata, the fewflower milkweed, is a species of milkweed that is native to the coastal plain of the United States from New Jersey to Florida and Southeast Texas. A. lanceolata is an upright, perennial plant that can grow between 3 and 5 feet tall, with red-orange flowers blooming in the summer months. It can also be referred to as Cedar Hill milkweed, as it was first described by Dr.
- 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 13 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Louisiana. NatureServe
- In Louisiana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 450 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #86 among the 154 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Louisiana, most flowering sightings come in April–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Not Listed,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S1), MD (S1), NJ (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, and confusion if eaten in quantity. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation” NC State Extension
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 fewflower milkweed in 13 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Natchitoches, Rapides, St. Charles, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion.
Names, range and relatives
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 142 counties across 12 states; the most are in Florida (55), Georgia (18), North Carolina (16).
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 Louisiana flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASLA2.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias lanceolata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias lanceolata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias lanceolata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: ncb1221 via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.