Table of Contents for Houston, Texas Milkweeds
There are twenty-three species of native or nearly native Houston, Texas milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that can be grown for butterflies and other insects. Milkweeds are an important host species for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies, which use the cardenolides found in the milky sap to give an unpleasant taste to predators. These plants are also an important nectar source to all insects visiting your pollinator garden. Seeds for a number of these Houston, TX milkweeds can be purchased in the McMullen House garden shop.
Location of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas is located in southeastern Texas in Harris County. The species covered in this post can all grow in Harris County.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas and Harris County are located within Zone 9. More specifically, the center of Houston is within Zone 9b, while a smaller portion of western Harris County is in Zone 9a. When selecting plants in most of Harris County you will want to plant those that can handle temperatures as cold as +25F and in western Harris County, +20F to be sure they will survive.
Butterflies in Houston, Texas that are Hosted by Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
The Monarch Buttefly is one of the most iconic butterflies in North America and is a bellweather of changes in the environment. Having a distinctive orange color with black stripes, this butterfly has a wingspan of 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm). The monarch butterfly ingest the toxic cardenolides of the milkweed plants, making it distasteful to predators. It can have several broods in a year and is known for its migrations to Mexico each year. However, some populations in the south, such as southern California, Arizona, and Florida do not migrate and breed year-round (Urguhart, et al 1968).
Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)
The Queen Butterfly is similar to the Monarch Butterfly but is more of a solid orange color and has a brownish hue, especially along the edges. When the wings are closed and the underside is shown it looks almost alike and is hard to tell from the monarch. However, this butterfly is generally smaller than the monarch having a wingspan of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to 4 in (10.2 cm). The similarity is not by accident and the queen butterfly is a mimic of the monarch, but it also ingests the cardenolides of the milkweed plants. Unlike the monarch, this butterfly does not migrate.
Soldier Butterfly (Danaus eresimus)
The soldier butterfly, at least on the upperside, looks a lot like the queen butterfly, but is more of a reddish-brown color and has white spots only on the top-side, versus both sides on the queen (Wikipedia-Danaus eresimus). The soldier butterfly is also smaller than the monarch butterfly and roughly the size of the queen butterfly having a wingspan of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to 3.5 in (8.9 cm). The flights of this butterfly are generally year-round, but it is seen most in the autumn and early winter.
List of Milkweeds that are Native or Nearly Native in the Houston, TX Area
1. Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): Clasping milkweed is native in the central and eastern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, this milkweed grows in dry woodlands, prairies, meadows, and roadsides having sandy or gravelly soil. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this plant has greenish-pink, red, brown, to purple flowers that bloom from March to September. This species is at the edge of its plant hardiness and can exist in much colder areas. In time, with warming due to climate change, this species may have a harder time existing in the Houston area.
In your Houston butterfly garden, clasping milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and can be grown in places with full sun to part-shade having dry sandy soil. Seeds of clasping milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
2. Western Sand Milkweed (Asclepias arenaria), a Milkweed for Sandy Soil
Western Sand Milkweed (Ascelpias arenaria): Western sand milkweed is native with a scattered distribution in the central and northern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, western sand milkweed grows in open places such as fields, pastures, dunes, sandhills, and roadsides. Growing up to 3 feet tall, and has pale-green to greenish-white flowers having a purplish hue that bloom from May to October. This species can grow in the hardiness zone of Houston and is native to the west and northwest of Houston. It is unknown whether this species can handle the humidity, since it grows in drier habitats.
In your Houston butterfly garden, western sand milkweed requires sandy well-drained soil in full sun and is hardy in zones 4-9. Seeds of western sand milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
3. Spider Milkweed (Asclepias asperula), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Spider Milkweed (Ascelpias asperula): Spider milkweed is native throughout Texas, except for the eastern counties (Kartesz 2015). Spider milkweed has two subspecies, one of which, subspecies capricornu is in Oklahoma. In the wild, spider milkweed is found in dry open habitats such as desert swales and scrub and pastures. Growing from 1 to 3 feet high, the cream-green flowers bloom from April to June and it is hardy in zones 5-9. This species is at the eastern edge of its range in the Houston area and may experience more heat stress in time from climate change.
In your Houston butterfly garden, spider milkweed requires a full sun exposure with dry and/or rocky soils. Seeds of spider milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
4. Emory’s Milkweed (Asclepias emoryi), a Milkweed for Dry Sandy and Limestone Soils
Emory’s Milkweed (Ascelpias emoryi): Emory’s milkweed is native to the central and southern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, Emory’s milkweed grows in sandy prairies and disturbed places such as roadsides and railways. Growing from 0.3 to 0.6 feet high, it has greenish-white to greenish-yellow flowers that bloom from April to August. This species is native to the south and west of Houston and can exist in the plant hardiness zone. To grow this species, you may need limestone and/or a dry sandy area, however, the habitat of growin .
In your Houston butterfly garden, Emory’s milkweed requires full sun with dry sandy and limestone soils and is hardy in zones 7-10. This species is native to the south and west of Houston and can exist in the plant hardiness zone. To grow this species, you may need limestone and/or a dry sandy area, however, the habitat of growing in disturbed places means it could probably do well in a garden.
5. Engelmann’s Milkweed (Asclepias engelmanniana), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Engelmann’s Milkweed (Ascelpias engelmanniana): This Engelmann’s milkweed is native to throughout Texas except for the southeastern and eastern counties (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, Engelmann’s milkweed is found in dry prairies, canyons and in open woodlands having limestone or sandy soils. Growing from 2 to 5 feet tall, this plant has cream-green flowers that bloom from May to September.
In your Houston butterfly garden, Engelmann’s milkweed requires full sun, dry sandy or limestone soils and is hardy in zones 5-9. Seeds of Engelmann’s milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop. This species is native to the northwest of Houston, and requires dry places to survive. Since it can exist in colder places, it may become stressed over time with climate change.
6. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Swamp milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is native in the center of Texas (hardy in zones 3-9), while the latter is adventive in three counties in Texas (Kartesz 2015). Like the name suggests, in the wild, it is found in wet places including the shores of streams, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. This is one of the taller milkweeds growing from 3 to 5 feet tall. The flowers, which bloom from July to September are generally a pink to red color, but there is also a white cultivar (pictured below).
In your Houston buttefly garden, swamp milkweed requires full sun to part shade and prefers moist to medium moisture soil, but it can exist in drier soil. This species has a very scattered distribution in Texas and much more common in northern areas. If planted, it may time experience heat stress due to climate change. Seeds of swamp milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
7. Few-flower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata), a Milkweed for Moist to Wet Soils
Few-flower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata): Few-flower milkweed is native to the southeastern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, this species grows on prairies, pine barrens, and the edges or marshes. Growing from 2 to 5 feet tall, this few-flower milkweed has yellow, orange, to red flowers that bloom from May to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, few-flower milkweed requires full sun to part-shade and loamy soils that are moist to wet. It is hardy in zones 5-11. This species is native to the Houston area and is well-suited to the habitat and plant hardiness zone.
8. Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis): Slim milkweed is native mostly to the southeastern region of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, slim milkweed grows in open areas having full sun such as dry prairies and wetlands. It is a short milkweed, growing from 0.5 to 2 feet tall, and has greenish-white flowers that bloom from April to October.
In your Houston butterfly garden, slim milkweed is hardy in zones 8-10 and grows best in places having full sun and dry soils. However it can handle wet conditions in gardens. This species is native to the Houston area and is well-suited to the plant hardiness zone. Since it can handle one hardiness higher than Houston, it should be able to handle some warming due to climate change.
9. Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia): Long-leaf milkweed is native mainly in the southeastern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, long-leaf milkweed grows in moist areas and wetlands such as bogs, swamps, wet flatwoods, and moist prairies. Growing from 1 to 2.5 feet tall, the greenish-white flowers bloom from April to July.
In your Houston butterfly garden, long-leaf milkweed requires full sun, moist to wet soils, and is hardy in zones 4-9. This species is native to the Houston area, but is at the edge of its plant hardiness zone. In time it may experience heat stress from climate change warming.
10. Pineland Milkweed (Asclepias obovata), a Milkweed for Well-drained Soils in Sun
Pineland Milkweed (Asclepias obovata): Pineland milkweed is native to the eastern counties and one southern county in Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, pineland milkweed grows, as the name would suggest, on pinelands, but it also can be found on coastal prairies (Singhurst and Hutchins 2015) and on roadsides and fields. Growing from 0.5 to 3 feet tall, this species has greenish-yellow flowers with purplish hoods that bloom from June to October.
In your Houston butterfly garden, pineland milkweed is hardy in zones 7-10 and requires full sun with well-drained soils. This species is native to the Houston area and can exist in a higher plant hardiness zone higher than that in Houston. This may be a good long-term species for the area.
11. Zizotes Milkweed (Asclepias oenotheroides), a Milkweed for Well-drained high pH Soils
Zizotes Milkweed (Asclepias oenotheroides): Zizotes milkweed is native throughout Texas, except for the far eastern counties (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, zizotes milkweed grows on rocky areas with limestone having a high pH. On the coast it can grow in the dunes (Singhurst and Hutchins 2015) and it can also be found in open areas such as fields, thickets, and roadsides (Woodson 1954). Growing from 1 to 2 feet tall, this species has white, greenish-white to yellow flowers that bloom from April to November.
In your Houston butterfly garden, zizotes milkweed is hardy in zones 7-9 and requires full sun to partial-shade with mesic to dry well-drained high pH soils. This species is native to the Houston area, but it is at the edge of its plant hardiness zone and may experience heat stress in the future with climate change warming.
12. Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis): Aquatic milkweed is native in the southeastern counties and one county in the east-central area of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, aquatic milkweed grows on the margins of wetlands such as swamps, alluvial woods, ditches, and marshes. Growing from 1 to 3.5 feet tall, this species has white to pink, purplish-rose or purple flowers that bloom from April to October.
In your Houston butterfly garden, aquatic milkweed is hardy in zones 6-10 and requires full sun to partial-shade with moist soils. This species is native to the Houston area and is well within its plant hardiness zone, making it a good long-term choice given climate change.
13. Red Milkweed (Asclepias rubra), a Milkweed for Wet Soils
Red Milkweed (Asclepias rubra): Red milkweed is native to the eastern and central counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, red milkweed grows in wet open areas such as bogs, wet meadows, and pine barrens (Woodson 1954). Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this plant has pink, purple, red to lavender flowers that bloom from May to August.
In Houston butterfly garden, red milkweed is hardy in zones 6-9 and grows best in places of full sun to part-shade with wet organic soil. This species is native just to the northwest of Houston, but can currently handle the plant hardiness zone. In time, however, it may experience heat stress due to climate change warming.
14. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): Showy milkweed is native to the northern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, showy milkweed grows in mesic to dry open areas such as roadsides, fields, and woodlands. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this plant has purple to pink flowers that bloom from April to June.
In your Houston garden, showy milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires places of full sun having medium to dry well-drained soil. This species is native to northwestern Texas and potentially grow in the Houston area based on hardiness zone. However, it may have some heat stress, being at the edge of its hardiness zone. The flowers are very showy and it is a popular milkweed. Seeds of showy milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
15. Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla): Slim-leaf milkweed is native in scattered counties, except for the south and southwest of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, slim-leaf milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies and sandy areas. Growing from 0.5 to 3 feet tall, this milkweed has greenish-white flowers that bloom from June to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, slim-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun and dry sandy or gravelly soils. This species is native in the Houston area, but is at the edge of its hardiness zone. In time it may have problems with heat stress from climate change. Seeds of slim-leaf milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
16. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a Milkweed for All Soils
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): Common milkweed is native throughout Texas, but is scattered in the west (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, common milkweed grows in open areas such as fields, pastures, and roadsides, where there is full sun. One of the taller milkweeds, it can grow up to 6 feet tall and has flowers ranging from pink, greenish-purple, greenish-white, to white that bloom from June to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, common milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9. This species is adventive in the northern part of Texas. However, it can exist in the plant hardiness zone of Houston and in gardens it is fairly flexible as far as conditions. In time it may have heat stress due to climate change. Seeds of common milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden shop.
17. Texas Milkweed (Asclepias texana), a Milkweed for Well-drained Soils
Texas Milkweed (Asclepias texana): Texas milkweed is native to the southwestern and central counties of the Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, Texas milkweed grows in canyons, arroyos, and hillsides. It can also be in shaded areas (Quillen 1922). Growing from 0.5 to 3 feet tall, it has white flowers bloom from June to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, Texas milkweed is hardy in zones 6-10 and requires full sun to part-shade to well-drained soil. This species is native to the west of Houston and could be potentially be grown in Houston based on hardiness zone. It may also be a good long-term choice since it can exist in a higher hardiness zone.
18. Velvetleaf Milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Sandy Soils
Velvetleaf Milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa): Velvet-leaf milkweed is native to the several counties in the eastern part of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, velvetleaf milkweed grows in pine woodlands and sandhills. Growing from 2 to 3 feet tall, it has yellow-cream, green flowers that may or may not have a pink to maroon tint. The flowers bloom from April to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, velvetleaf milkweed is hardy in zones 7-10 and requires full sun in sandy soil that is medium to dry. This species is native to the north of Houston, but can exist in the plant hardiness zone. Because it can exist in a higher hardiness zone it may be a good choice given climate change.
19. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a Milkweed for All Soils
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Buttefly Weed is one of the most common for butterfly gardeners on the east coast of the United States. In Texas, subspecies interior of this species grows throughout Texas except for the southern counties (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, butterfly weed grows in open areas with full sun such as fields, roadsides, and open woods. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, it has characteristically orange flowers that bloom throughout the summer and sometimes into the autumn.
In your Houston butterfly garden, butterfly weed is hardy from zones 3-9. This species is native in the Houston area, but may experience heat stress in the future due to it being at the upper edge of it plant hardiness zone. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
20. Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata): Red-ring milkweed is native mostly to the eastern part of the state and two counties in the central (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, red-ring milkweed grows in thickets, open woods and roadsides that are dry and rocky/sandy. Growing from 1 to 4 feet tall, it has white flowers with a purple or red ring at the base that bloom from May to July.
In your Houston butterfly garden, red-ring milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9. This species is native just east of the Houston area and can exist in its plant hardiness zone. In the future, it may have some heat stress due to climate change warming, being at the upper end of its hardiness zone. Seeds of red-ring milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
21. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soil
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Whorled milkweed is native mainly in the eastern counties of the state with scattered locations elsewhere (Kartesz 2015). Whorled milkweed has green to white flowers that bloom from May to September. In the wild, like a lot of other milkweeds, it grows in open areas such as meadows and fields, taking advantage of full sun.
In your Houston butterfly garden, whorled milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires full sun to part shade, and medium to dry soil. This species is native to the Houston area and is at the upper end of its plant hardiness zone. Seeds of whorled milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
22. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Sandy Soils
Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): Green comet milkweed is native throughout the state (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, it grows in open areas such as meadows and fields having full sun. Growing up to 3 feet tall, it has flowers that start out green and age to become yellow and purple tinged that bloom from June to August.
In your Houston butterfly garden, green comet milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires full sun to part shade, and medium to dry sandy soil. This species is native in the Houston area, but is at the upper end of plant hardiness zone. Seeds of green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
23. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis), A Milkweed for Medium to Dry High pH Soils
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis): Green milkweed is native to the eastern half of the state (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, green milkweed grows in open areas such as glades, prairies, roadsides, and pastures where there is full sun. Growing from 0.5 to 2 feet tall, it has green, yellowish-green, or white flowers that bloom from April to October.
In your Houston butterfly garden, green milkweed is hardy in zones 5-9 and requires medium to dry soils having a high pH. This species is native to the Houston area, but is at the upper end of its plant hardiness zone. Seeds of green milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
Additional Houston Milkweed that Could be Planted but is not Native
Adventive Species 1. Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias currasavica), a Milkweed for Places of Disturbance
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias viridis): Tropical milkweed is adventive to the southeastern and southern counties of Texas (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, tropical milkweed grows in places of disturbance such as roadsides, railroads, and fields, where there is full sun. Growing from 2 to 3 feet tall, it has orange, yellow or red flowers that bloom from June to October, but can bloom for longer periods in warmer locations.
In your Houston butterfly garden, this milkweed is hardy in zones 8-11, requires full sun and well-suited to garden situations. This plant has been introduced to Texas mainly because of the brilliant flowers and it popularity with butterflies. However, this species has been demonstrated to actually be harmful to monarch butterflies. So it is perhaps best not to plant this species.
When selecting your Houston milkweed, be sure to make sure it grows in your plant hardiness zone and habitat.
Books where you can find out more about Monarchs and Butterfly Gardening in the Houston,TX Area
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2022. Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies. South – Nature-Friendly Gardens. Adventure Publications. 276 pp.
- Dessau, Ralph. 2015. Monarquita: the Migratory Butterfly *la mariposa migratoria – Pollinator. Piggy Press Books. 36 pp.
- Flatharta, Antoine O. and Meilo So. 2005. Hurry and the Monarch. Knopf. 40 pp.
- Oberhauser, Karen Suzanne. 2015. Monarchs in a Changing World – Biology and Conservation of an Iconic Butterfly. Cornell University Press. 321 pp.
- Turley, Windle. 2010. The Amazing Monarch – The Secret Wintering Grounds of an Endangered Butterfly. BenBella Books, Inc. 112 pp.
- Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski. 2003. Native Texas Plants – Landcaping Region by Region. Taylor Trade Publishing. 405 pp.
- Watson, J.A. and Amanda Humann. 2018. Monarch Mystery – A Butterfly Researcher’s Journal – Science Squad. North Star Editions. 185 pp.
- Weber, Jim, Lynne Weber, Roland H. Wauer. 2018. Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies – A Field Guide – Myrna and David K. Langford Books on Working Lands. Texas A&M University Press. 244 pp.
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References for Houston Milkweeds
- Kartesz, J.T. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. Link to website. Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]
- Singhurst, Jason and Ben Hutchins. 2015. Identification of the Milkweeds in Texas. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- Quillen, Ellen Schultz. 1922. 500 Wild Flowers of San Antonio and Vicinity. (San Antonio: self-published).
- Urguhart, Frederick Albert, Norah Roden Urguhart, and Francis Munger. 1968. Population of Danaus plexippus in Southern California. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 7(4): 169-181.
- Woodson, Robert E. 1954. The North American Species of Asclepias L. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 41: 1-211.
