Flower profile
Green comet milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora
Green comet milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: North Dakota, Oklahoma
Quick look
Asclepias viridiflora; also known as green comet milkweed, green-flower milkweed, and green milkweed; is a species of milkweed (Asclepias). The plant is located in the eastern and central United States, ranging between Connecticut to Georgia and Arizona to Montana, and is also in southern Canada and northern Mexico. The Latin epithet viridiflora translates as "green-flowered".
- 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 37 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Oklahoma and North Dakota. NatureServe
- In Oklahoma, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 554 research-grade sightings of it in Oklahoma, ranking #60 among the 110 flowers on our Oklahoma list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 156 research-grade sightings of it in North Dakota, ranking #41 among the 109 flowers on our North Dakota list. iNaturalist
Green comet milkweed gift ideas
Handmade green comet milkweed gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Green comet milkweed art print
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Green comet milkweed greeting card
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Green comet milkweed mug
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Green comet milkweed earrings
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Green comet milkweed embroidery pattern
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Green comet milkweed sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Native | May–August | 554 |
| North Dakota | Native | few records | 156 |
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
- Oklahoma
- No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
- North Dakota
- No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S1), CT (S1), FL (S1), NJ (S2), NY (S2), WV (S2). (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: flowers, fruits, leaves, sap/juice, 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 green comet milkweed in 37 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Oklahoma counties with USDA records: Beckham, Bryan, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Custer, Garfield, Grady, Greer, Johnston, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Le Flore, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, Murray, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods.
North Dakota counties with USDA records: Barnes, Benson, Billings, Burke, Burleigh, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Kidder, McHenry, McKenzie, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Ward, Williams.
More Oklahoma flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASVI.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias viridiflora: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias viridiflora (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Noxious Weed Law (2 O.S. § 3-220).
- North Dakota: North Dakota state noxious weeds (N.D. Admin. Code 7-06-01-02), as listed by the ND Department of Agriculture.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias viridiflora (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: ashleyrsteel via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.