Flower profile
Zizotes milkweed
Asclepias oenotheroides
Zizotes milkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Texas it's most often seen in bloom in April–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Texas
Quick look
Asclepias oenotheroides, commonly known as zizotes milkweed or sidecluster milkweed, is a plant in the dogbane family. It grows in Central America, Mexico, and several US states.
- 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 6 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Texas. NatureServe
- In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 10,931 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #50 among the 109 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist
Zizotes milkweed gift ideas
Handmade zizotes 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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Zizotes milkweed art print
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Zizotes milkweed greeting card
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Zizotes milkweed mug
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Zizotes milkweed earrings
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Zizotes milkweed embroidery pattern
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Zizotes milkweed sticker
When does it bloom?
In Texas, most flowering sightings come in April–October.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure 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
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CO (S1), OK (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?
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 zizotes milkweed in 6 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.
Texas counties with USDA records: Andrews, Aransas, Bailey, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Brazos, Brewster, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Carson, Clay, Colorado, Comanche, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dallas, DeWitt, Dimmit, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Fayette, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Hays, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jack, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Wells, Johnson, Karnes, Kenedy, Kent, Kleberg, La Salle, Leon, Llano, Loving, Madison, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Midland, Milam, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Randall, Reagan, Reeves, Refugio, Robertson, San Patricio, Somervell, Starr, Sutton, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Travis, Val Verde, Victoria, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Willacy, Winkler, Yoakum, Zapata.
More Texas flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ASOE.
- iNaturalist, Asclepias oenotheroides: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Asclepias oenotheroides (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Texas: Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- Texas: Texas noxious and invasive plant list (4 Tex. Admin. Code § 19.300(a)).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Asclepias oenotheroides (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.