Very cool! It might be herbicide damage, but it also might be something special. Keep an eye on it for next year, or if you can try digging a bit

Illegal to dig things from the wild (in my state, at least)

It looks like disease, but in case it's a natural variation, I'd watch it for seed pods. As far as I know, it's not illegal to cut off a seed pod.

Sherry

not finding any info at all on variegated, disease, virus or herbicide that causes this. Weird stuff

The plant in the last photo does have two developing seed pods. It's of course has the least amount of white. I'll set some seed this coming winter and see what happens.

Try looking up herbicide bleaching. Different types can produce different patterns.

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/carotenoid-pigments

I think the heavily variegated one is a very cool look!

I think you are on to something!! I’ll reach out to the local township to ask if they sprayed anything

Well they say they don’t spray except for around telephone poles and other equipment.... but I think I see some wilting if other plants not too far from these milkweeds. And they don’t use the type that causes the bleaching. I’ll just keep an eye out on the patch and see how it does until fall

Well I will 95% chance say this was just from herbicidal drift. About 5 feet from this area is a dead zone now.

Mblan13... i've seen the tropical milkweed for sale periodically over the years here too.

Variegated Tropical Milkweed - Asclepias curassavica "Charlotte's Blush" is patented & sold by Shady Oaks Butterfly Farm. I just ordered 2 to try.

https://shadyoakbutterflyfarm.com/products/variegated-tropical-milkweed-asclepias-curassavica-charlottes-blush-butterfly-host-and-nectar-plant?_pos=1&_sid=368dff7fd&_ss=r
MikeTheBeeGuy@yahoo.com

Thanks for some follow up

please report back next year.

Saw this in my field today.

Yeah it wad herbicidal bleaching…. looks interesting but thats it

Tanya's plant looks like a mutated form with variegation.

I would be very surprised if this was caused by herbicides. It's in the middle of 5 acres and the thousands of other milkweed look normal. I'm thinking a random mutation but beautiful

Wow, Tanya -- that's beautiful!

yours does have a different pattern. keep an eye on it! try and get seeds

Seedlings might not have the variegation. Are these Common milkweed?

The offspring might not be variegated but a percent might be. There's the fun in it. I like variegated plants, though they grow slower. tanya id be interested in a root cutting in the fall if you can mark it!! trade or sell.