Asclepias eriocarpa
Identification
Description
Perennial, 3ft large 5in leaves, fruits 4in horns, flowers compound 4-5inch cluster. In our area covered with monarch caterpillars during the summer. The Bullocks Orioles use the dead stems for nests the next spring. (The matter looks like fiberglass.) It needs sun. It is quite drought tolerant. Plant, mulch heavily, water well first month and ignore. WE MAY SHIP BAREROOT IN WINTER. The alkaloids associated with this plant give the butterflies that feed on it protection. Alkaloids from the wrong milkweed(South American, Mexican, etc.) can expose the butterflies to predation. If the monarch or other butterfly has not evolved with the milkweed they have no tolerance for the particular alkaloid of the species. The California flyway runs from Baja to Canada, it does not include Mexico proper nor Central America. If you live in Chicago you can plant Mexican species (Asclepias mexicana) or Asclepias tuberosa, don't plant our species. I would guess the symptoms to be similar to the problem of intolerance to legumes that some people have.
Characteristics
Asclepias eriocarpa Monarch Milkweed tolerates clay.
Asclepias eriocarpa Monarch Milkweed is great for a bird garden and a butterfly garden.
Asclepias eriocarpa Monarch Milkweed's foliage color is silver and type is deciduous.
Asclepias eriocarpa Monarch Milkweed's flower color is pink.
Communities
Communities for Asclepias eriocarpa Monarch Milkweed:Chaparral and Central Oak Woodland.
Ranges for Asclepias eriocarpa
| ph: | 6.00 to 7.00 |
|---|---|
| usda: | 4 to 9 |
| height[m]: | 0.50 to 1.00 |
| width[m]: | 0.20 to 0.20 |
| rainfall[cm]: | 31.00 to 83.00 |