Flower profile
Redring milkweed
Asclepias variegata
Redring milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi
Quick look
Asclepias variegata, commonly called the redring milkweed or white milkweed, is a plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to eastern North America, where it is found in Canada and the United States. It is most common in the Southeastern United States, and becomes rare in the northern edge of its range.
- 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 24 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. NatureServe
- In Arkansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- In Alabama, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 951 research-grade sightings of it in Arkansas, ranking #40 among the 109 flowers on our Arkansas list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 849 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #62 among the 111 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 388 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #61 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
Redring milkweed gift ideas
Handmade redring 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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Redring milkweed art print
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Redring milkweed greeting card
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Redring milkweed mug
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Redring milkweed earrings
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Redring milkweed embroidery pattern
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Redring milkweed sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Native | May–June | 951 |
| Alabama | Native | May | 849 |
| Mississippi | Native | April–June | 388 |
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
- Arkansas
- No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
- Alabama
- No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
- Mississippi
- No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (SH), DE (S2), NJ (SH), NY (S1), PA (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: flowers, leaves, sap/juice, 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 redring milkweed in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.
Arkansas counties with USDA records: Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Dallas, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Logan, Mississippi, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Union.
Alabama counties with USDA records: Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Pickens, Russell, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox.
Mississippi counties with USDA records: Adams, Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Covington, DeSoto, Forrest, Greene, Grenada, Jasper, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Panola, Perry, Pike, Pontotoc, Scott, Smith, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Wayne, Webster, Wilkinson, Winston.
More Arkansas flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASVA.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias variegata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias variegata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
- Alabama: Alabama noxious weeds (Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-14-.04).
- Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias variegata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Laura Clark via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.