Flower profile
Rush milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata) is a low shrub in the Apocynaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–December across the U.S.
Rush milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in April–December.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Nevada
Quick look
Asclepias subulata is a species of milkweed known commonly as the rush milkweed, desert milkweed or ajamete. This is an erect perennial herb which loses its leaves early in the season and stands as a cluster of naked stalks. Atop the stems are inflorescences of distinctive flowers.
- It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
- In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–December. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 641 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #55 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in April–December.
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
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- 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.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada. NatureServe
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 rush milkweed in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, California, Nevada.
Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Lincoln.
Names, range and relatives
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 11 counties across 3 states; the most are in Arizona (5), California (4), Nevada (2).
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 Nevada flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASSU.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias subulata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias subulata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias subulata (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: John Brew via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.