Seeds of Asclepias macrosperma.
Big Seed milkweed seed.
Each unit ordered is one seed of this precious seed. 100 seeds is all for this year.
Asclepias macrosperma, Big Seed milkweed seed
$5.00Price
Asclepias macrosperma is extremely obscure and not widely cultivated or documented. Thru obsevation I have come to recognize the following preferences of Big seed milkweed.
Unique Growing Conditions of Asclepias macrosperma:
Habitat Preference:
- Native to Arizona and New Mexico, particularly in rocky desert canyons, arroyos, and limestone outcrops.
- Found in Chihuahuan desert scrub and pinyon-juniper woodlands at elevations roughly 3,500 to 5,500 feet.
- Often grows in thin, gravelly soils with excellent drainage.
Soil & Moisture Needs:
- Prefers dry, well-drained calcareous soils.
- Highly drought-tolerant. It thrives where rainfall is sparse and irregular.
- Cannot tolerate prolonged wet periods or heavy soils.
Sun Exposure:
- Requires full sun, often in exposed, open habitats.
- Does poorly in shaded or moist environments.
Unique Characteristics of Asclepias macrosperma:
Growth Habit:
- Low-growing, spreading or trailing herbaceous perennial.
- Often forms small mats or sprawling colonies among rocks.
- Stems hug the ground and root at nodes in contact with soil.
Leaves:
- Small, elliptical to ovate leaves, densely spaced along stems.
- Typically a muted green to gray-green, adapted for water conservation.
Flowers:
- Pale cream or green to white flowers in small, tight umbels.
- Bloom period: typically mid spring to early summer depending on rainfall and tempatuers.
- Characteristic milkweed corona and hoods are present but more diminutive than showier species.
Fruit / Seeds:
- Large, inflated follicles (seed pods) relative to overall plant size — hence the name "macrosperma" (large seed).
- Seeds have prominent coma (silky hairs) for wind dispersal.
- Seeds are similar in size to Asclepias erosa, another desert milkweed species. While the plant is significantly smaller then Asclepias erosa.
Ecological Role:
- Supports native desert pollinators and occasional monarch use, though less significant than other species due to rarity and range.
- Important for local bee species adapted to desert flora.