Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Erect perennials with smooth stems, to 1 m tall.

Leaves: The persistent leaves are whorled with 3-5 leaves at each node, each of these are narrowly linear with a tapered base, these are less than one inch wide but usually smaller and 4.5 inches long, smooth on top.

Flowers: In axillary and terminal umbels with many greenish-white and purple tinged flowers. The umbels are rounded on top and made up of numerous flowers with grayish pink to nearly white but greenish corolla.

Fruits: The upright pod is smooth and 2-5 inches long and slender, less than a half inch wide.

Ecology: Found in a range of soils from moist to very dry sites, from 150 to 7,500 ft (46-2286 m); flowers May through October.

Distribution: WA south through CA into Baja California.

Notes: This species is a known Monarch host plant.

Synonyms: Asclepias mexicana, Asclepias macrophylla, Asclepias fasciculata

Editor: AHazelton 2015