California milkweed, Asclepias californica
States grown: CA
California milkweed grows in lower northern California, central and southern California as well as into northern Baja California. It is an important monarch butterfly caterpillar host plant. It is a perennial and has thick wooly stems that are low to the ground and bending upwards.
California milkweed, Asclepias californica seedsAsclepias californica, California milkweed seeds. SEEDS COMING MAY 22nd 2023
Permission kindly granted by author: Marshal Hedin
distribution within California
|
View California milkweed observations on iNaturalist
View California milkweed plant information at Wildflower.org
View California milkweed plant information at Plants.USDA.gov
|
First visit to a patch of California milkweed
Each May the disturbed soil in southern California comes to life. Woolly stems of Asclepias californica burst up and blossom. May 6th 2023 I convinced my friends at Caterpillar Chow to show me a secret location where the plants were happily growing. These are the photos.
