Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa)
Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) — Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Alternative Names
Description of Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa)
Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa), a member of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 1′ to 4′ tall and blooms in the spring, summer, and fall (April to October). The fruits, which are follicles, mature in the late summer to fall. The leaves opposite, sessile to short-petioled, simple, erose margined, lanceolate in shape, and are 1.5 to 10 inches in length and 1 to 4.5 inches in width. More information on this species can be found on this blog post.
Hosted Species
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and the Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)
Nectar Species
This is plant is a nectar plant for many other insects.
Native Range of Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) in the United States and Canada
Habitat
Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) is a herbaceous perennial that grows in washes, roadsides, and sandy plains. It is native to the southwestern United States.
Interesting Facts
The genus name, Asclepias, is derived from the Greek god of healing who was named Asclepius (Wikipedia). The species name, erosa, derives from the erose margins of the leaves in a Latinized form.
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