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Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa

Photo Citations
Naturedigger would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) identification slide:
Flower image provided by: Alex Bairstow, iNaturalist observation (cropped), CC BY-NC 4.0
Flower inset image provided by: Bob McCoy, iNaturalist observation
(cropped), CC BY-NC 4.0
Leaf image provided by: Tony Iwane, iNaturalist observation (cropped), CC BY-NC 4.0
Pod image provided by: Lonny Holmes, iNaturalist observation (cropped), CC BY-NC 4.0
Asclepias erosa Profile
Common Name(s):
desert milkweed
California desert milkweed
Scientific Name:
Asclepias erosa
Native Range:
AZ, CA, NV, UT
USDA Symbol:
ASER2
Habitat:
• deserts
• mountain slopes
• roadsides/disturbed areas
• creosote and sometimes sagebrush communities
• dry washes
• elevation 500-6,230 feet (150-1900 meters)
Growing Conditions:
• full sun
• dry granite, sand or clay soils with low organic content
Plant Height:
• 2-6 feet (0.5-2 meters)
Stem Description:
• green to yellow
• mature plants produce multiple stems with a width of up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) at the base, then narrows at the top
• woolly when young, becoming hairless as plant matures
Leaf Description:
• elliptic, lanceolate or ovate
• dull color when covered in cream-colored hair
• 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters) long and 1-4 inches (3-10 centimeters) wide
• distinct white veins
• no petiole; sessile
• bases tapered to cordate
• succulent
Leaf Arrangement:
• opposite
Leaf Margin:
• undulate or jagged (erose)
Leaf Surface:
• smooth to very hairy (woolly) both above and below
• hairs, when present, are cream-colored
• may be glabrous or hairless as plant matures
Flowering Period:
• April through October
Flower Description:
• horns extend beyond hoods
• hoods sit slightly above the stigmatic disc
• globe-like umbels grow near the top of the stem
• umbels are erect with 20 or more flowers
• petals are reflexed
• horns sickle-shaped
Flower Color:
petals: pale cream or green
hoods and horns: white or cream to yellow
Pod Description:
• stout and thick
• 2-3 inches long
• erect on deflexed pendicels
Other Information:
• the leaves are generally jagged, or erose, as in the plant's scientific name Asclepias erose
To Locate and Purchase Seeds (when available):
Xerces Society Milkweed Seed Finder
Milkweed and Wildflower Vendors
For More Information About This Species Visit:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Bring Back Monarchs (if avail)
Xerces Regional Milkweed Guide