See photos and descriptions for a selection of species in the genus Asclepias.

Asclepias adscendens (Schltr.) Schltr.
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC).
Perennial herb, 100–200 mm tall. Leaves linear-lanceolate to ovate; umbels solitary and terminal with 12–15 flowers. Peduncles 5–65 mm long. Corolla lobes reflexed or spreading reflexed with upcurved tips. Flowers white to pinkish or purplish. Plants flower in spring to early summer (August to December); in grassland. Widely distributed in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa (Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces); also Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

Asclepias aurea (Schltr.) Schltr.
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC).
Perennial herb, 140–500 mm tall. Leaves long and linear, glabrous; umbels axillary and terminal, usually with 4 (rarely 5–8) flowers. Relatively long scapose peduncles 40–140 mm long. Corolla lobes reflexed or spreading, canescent inside. Flowers yellow or white; corona white, yellow or purple with white sides; flowers in spring to autumn (August to May); grows on grassy slopes or rocky hillsides. Used medicinally as an emetic.

Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius var. crispa.
Common name: bitterwortel (Afr.).
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC).
Perennial herb 150–400 mm tall; leaves crisped-wavy, linear to lanceolate, truncate, rounded or cuneate at base; scabrous or pubescent. Umbels solitary, terminal or 2–4 racemosely arranged, pedunculated, with 7–40 flowers; corolla lobes reflexed, glabrous on both sides or pubescent outside. Flowers dull green or purplish tinted inside, brown purplish outside; corona greenish or with purple outer margin. Usually flowers in September. Decoctions or infusions of the root is used as a diuretic and purgative medicine. Reported to be toxic to livestock.

Asclepias cultriformis (Harv. ex Schltr.) Schltr.
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC).
Perennial herb 150–300 mm tall. Leaves oblong, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate. Corolla lobes ascending-spreading, pubescent outside, pubescent to densely white-hairy at tips and along margins, glabrous inside. Corona lobes with compressed, erect processes or horn within cavity. Flowers green or dark purple-brown; corona white with violet spot on back near apex and violet at base. Plants flowers December to February. Grows in grassland. Distributed in Lesotho, South Africa (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces); also Eswatini.