Asclepias mexicana
An Apocynaceae milkweed native to Mexico, drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, with whorled leaves in threes and dense umbels of flowers, producing slender long pods, and serving as a crucial monarch butterfly host.
Common Names
Mexican Whorled Milkweed, Narrowleaf Milkweed
Summary
This milkweed is native to the western United States and Mexico and grows as a perennial herb reaching about 0.3 to 1.5 m tall, with whorled leaves arranged in threes on the main stem and flowering branches; leaves are linear or narrow lanceolate; dense umbels of greenish white to purplish flowers are produced; it is toxic to humans and livestock and deer resistant; sun loving with low water needs and well drained soil.
Cultivation and practical aspects include full sun growth in well drained soil, tolerance of drought, and hardiness in zones 6 to 10; it self seeds and propagates mainly by seed, with seeds requiring light and the plant being pressed into soil without covering, germinating in about 7 to 10 days and possibly up to two months; also relevant is its role as a monarch butterfly host plant and its value for pollinator friendly landscapes.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-3 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained, neutral-pH soil tolerant of clay or silty textures, suitable for dry to moist conditions
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil, dry to moist soils
Soil pH
Neutral pH (best)
Bloom Color
White and Purple
Bloom Time
Summer and Fall
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fairly quickly
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Basal cuttings (late spring)
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Cav.
- Publication
- Icon. 1: 42 (1791)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Gentianales
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Genus
- Asclepias