Woolypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
Care
full sun, part shade
very low
Fast, Medium, Slow; Tolerates a variety of soils including clay.
1–3ft tall , 1–1ft wide
Jun-Aug
Deciduous
Resistant
Friendly
San Joaquin Valley floor and surrounding foothills in Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties, 100-1500 ft elevation in alkaline scrub.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant woolypod milkweed in full sun in a spot with fast to slow-draining soil - it's adaptable and even tolerates clay. Since it's deciduous and native to dry California regions, fall is an ideal planting time, giving roots time to establish before summer heat. Space plants 1–3 feet apart depending on whether you want them as specimens or massed together for maximum visual impact.
After Planting
Water regularly during your first summer to help the plant establish, then transition to very low water once established - just 2 times per month or less in summer. After the first year, this is an extremely low-maintenance plant that tolerates cold down to -20°F and will die back in winter as a deciduous perennial. The most common mistake is overwatering; once established, woolypod milkweed actually prefers dry conditions and will thrive on neglect, all while providing crucial nectar for monarch butterflies.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Listed under California ESA
California Species of Special Concern; monarch populations declining
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Critical larval foodplant for multiple generations; adults also nectar on flowers
Larval host plant for multiple generations in California
Larval host plant during spring-summer generation
Specialist herbivore feeding on milkweed foliage and flowers
Important larval foodplant in spring and early summer
Sap-feeding herbivore found on milkweed species
Adult nectar source in late summer-fall