Carolina and anglepod milkvine are vining asclepiad species native to southeastern North America. Both species displayed nondeep physiological seed dormancy. Carolina milkvine failed to germinate without a dormancy release treatment. The highest germination (>95%) was observed after eight weeks of chilling stratification. In contrast, anglepod milkvine showed limited germination with about 40% of the seeds germinating slowly without a dormancy release treatment. Maximal germination (> 95%) in anglepod milkvine was observed after six weeks of chilling stratification. Anglepod milkvine displayed a common form of epigeous germination where the cotyledons were released from the seed coverings and raised above the soil on an elongating hypocotyl. In Carolina milkvine, the germination pattern was hypogeous and cryptocotylar where the cotyledons remained within the seed coverings and stayed below the soil surface as the epicotyl emerged.