Zizotes Milkweed
Asclepias oenotheroides
Last reviewed: September 2026
Zizotes milkweed is a drought tolerant forb that blooms from March through August in full sun, attracting butterflies and bees to dry grasslands, roadsides, and open woodlands.
Zizotes Milkweed 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"–36" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CO, LA, NM and 2 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees
Before you buy
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Zizotes Milkweed is a low-growing native perennial that produces small white or greenish-white flowers from spring through summer. This drought-tolerant plant forms a compact mound and goes dormant in winter, making it well-suited for water-wise gardens.
Growing Zizotes Milkweed
Grow Zizotes Milkweed in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Zizotes Milkweed is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
Essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and provides nectar for various butterflies and bees. The flowers attract pollinators throughout the extended blooming season.
Common questions
- When does Zizotes milkweed bloom?
- Asclepias oenotheroides generally flowers from March through August, with peak bloom in late spring and early summer depending on local rainfall and temperature.
- What pollinators visit Zizotes milkweed?
- Like other milkweeds, this species draws bees and butterflies, including monarchs, which use milkweed foliage as a larval host plant.
- What growing conditions does Zizotes milkweed need?
- It does best in full sun with well drained soil and low supplemental water, making it suited to dry prairies, roadside edges, and caliche or clay soils common in Texas and the southern Plains.
- Is Zizotes milkweed a perennial?
- Yes, it is a herbaceous perennial forb that dies back to the root crown each winter and resprouts in spring.
- Is Zizotes Milkweed toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Zizotes Milkweed 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 Zizotes Milkweed toxic to cats?
- Yes. Zizotes Milkweed 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 Zizotes Milkweed HOA-friendly?
- Zizotes Milkweed is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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