Bloomipedia
Pearl milkweed (Matelea reticulata)
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Pearl milkweed

Matelea reticulata

Native to Texas

Pearl milkweed is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Texas it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

1states
9,470TX sightings*
9,470U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Texas

Quick look

Matelea reticulata, commonly called Pearl Milkweed Vine, Netted Milkvine, Green Milkweed Vine, Net Vein Milkvine, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native North America, where it is endemic to the U.S. state of Texas.

  • It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 1 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Texas. NatureServe
  • In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 9,470 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #60 among the 109 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist

Pearl milkweed gift ideas

Handmade pearl 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.

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed art print

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed greeting card

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed mug

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed earrings

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed embroidery pattern

    Gift pick coming soon

  • Placeholder

    Pearl milkweed sticker

    Gift pick coming soon

When does it bloom?

In Texas, most flowering sightings come in April–July.

Flowering records by month in Texas (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,075 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
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?

For peopleNot well documented

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.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 pearl milkweed in 1 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Texas.

Texas counties with USDA records: Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Brown, Burnet, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Comanche, Coryell, Crockett, Duval, Eastland, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Johnson, Kendall, Kenedy, Kerr, Kleberg, Llano, Mason, McLennan, McMullen, Palo Pinto, Parker, Real, San Patricio, Terrell, Travis, Trinity, Val Verde.

More Texas flowers

Green antelopehorns (Asclepias viridis)

Green antelopehorns

Asclepias viridis

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: April–September
Antelopehorn milkweed (Asclepias asperula)

Antelopehorn milkweed

Asclepias asperula

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: April–May
Zizotes milkweed (Asclepias oenotheroides)

Zizotes milkweed

Asclepias oenotheroides

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: April–October

Sources