Description
Asclepias angustifolia | Arizona Milkweed ‘Sonoita’
Arizona Milkweed, also commonly known as Narrow-Leaved Milkweed, Slender Milkweed, Mexican Whorled Milkweed, and the Spanish name Talayote, is a desert drought-tolerant perennial native to Arizona and Northern Mexico, known for its slender, willow-like leaves and aisry stems that sway in the heat along with the delicate clusters of flowers that emerge as blush pink buds that open up into white flowers from spring into late summer.
The ‘Sonoita’ variety is from the Patrick McMillan collection in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
Commonly found in riparian woodland areas, canyons, and mountains, often in rocky soils. Asclepias angustifolia tolerates full sun to part shade with low to moderate water, but benefits from supplemental water in home gardens.
In late summer narrow seed pods split open when ripe releasing distinctive silky-plumed seeds that are dispersed by the wind.
Arizona Milkweed is an important nectar source for butterflies and native bees, who all like to forage on the flowers for pollen and nectar. Also, like all members of the Asclepias genus, it is a larval host plant for Monarch butterflies. The Monarch will lay eggs on this plant and the resulting larvae (caterpillars) use the plant leaves as a food source. The leaves contain a milky latex that is hazardous to most animals, but the caterpillars are adapted to feed on them despite the chemical defense.
Seeds germinate easily with heat, water/humidity, and light.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to light shade
Mature height: 2-3 ft
Mature width: 2-3 ft
Hardiness zones: 7b-11
