When does green antelopehorns bloom?

Green antelopehorns blooms from May through July, producing rounded clusters of green flowers with purple-tinged centers.

What growing conditions does green antelopehorns need?

It does best in full sun with well-drained soil and handles low-water conditions well, which suits the open prairies, glades, and roadsides where it is often found.

What insects are attracted to green antelopehorns?

Bees, butterflies, and wasps commonly visit the flowers for nectar during the plant's late spring and summer bloom period.

How large does green antelopehorns get?

It is a compact forb, usually staying under two feet tall with an upright clumping form.

Is Green Antelopehorns toxic to dogs?

Yes. Green Antelopehorns is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Green Antelopehorns toxic to cats?

Yes. Green Antelopehorns is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Green Antelopehorns HOA-friendly?

Green Antelopehorns takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Green Antelopehorns

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Asclepias viridis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Asclepias viridis, or green antelopehorns, is a low-growing forb that blooms May through July in prairies, glades, and roadsides across the central and southeastern United States, favoring full sun and low-water, well-drained soils.

Green Antelopehorns (Asclepias viridis) — Photo: (c) sonnia hill, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Green Antelopehorns is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 14 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, wasps

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Antelope-horns is a compact milkweed with unique green and white flowers that bloom from May through July. This drought-tolerant native grows in neat clumps and requires minimal care once established. The plant goes dormant in winter, disappearing completely until spring regrowth.

Growing Green Antelopehorns

Grow Green Antelopehorns in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Green Antelopehorns takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Flowers are green and inconspicuous, may appear weedy to untrained eye
Completely dies back in winter leaving bare spots
Milkweed family has reputation as 'weed' despite native status

Wildlife value

Host plant for monarch butterfly.

Essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and provides nectar for various bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps. Part of the critical milkweed family that supports declining monarch populations.

Common questions

When does green antelopehorns bloom?: Green antelopehorns blooms from May through July, producing rounded clusters of green flowers with purple-tinged centers.
What growing conditions does green antelopehorns need?: It does best in full sun with well-drained soil and handles low-water conditions well, which suits the open prairies, glades, and roadsides where it is often found.
What insects are attracted to green antelopehorns?: Bees, butterflies, and wasps commonly visit the flowers for nectar during the plant's late spring and summer bloom period.
How large does green antelopehorns get?: It is a compact forb, usually staying under two feet tall with an upright clumping form.
Is Green Antelopehorns toxic to dogs?: Yes. Green Antelopehorns is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Green Antelopehorns toxic to cats?: Yes. Green Antelopehorns is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Green Antelopehorns HOA-friendly?: Green Antelopehorns takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Green Antelopehorns and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.

Find pet-safe natives

iPhone app Android app

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz