Native Plants
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Asclepias eriocarpa
Asclepias eriocarpa Benth.
Woollypod Milkweed
Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family)
Synonym(s): Asclepias eriocarpa var. microcarpa, Asclepias fremontii
USDA Symbol: ASER
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The plant, except for the flowers, is covered with fine hairs giving it a silvery tint. The hairs on the seed pods are long, giving a woolly appearance, hence the common name. The plant stands erect with flowers born on stout and relatively long pedicels that arise from leaf axils at the top of the plant. The flowers have a waxy odor (Webref 20).
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite , Whorled
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Lanceolate , Ovate
Inflorescence: Umbel
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Leaves are ovate to lance shaped, long 3-5 in (7 1/2 - 13 cm), and broad with margins somewhat undulating or rippled. The covering of dense white hairs gives the leaves a greenish/silvery appearance (Webref 20).
Flower: Pink, white, or cream colored. Corollas fold back so that the hoods stand erect over them. Horns come out of the hoods. One umbel, contains 15 +/- flowers and can be 4-5 in (10-13 cm) in diameter (Webref 20).
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , PinkBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: CA , NVNative Distribution: California, Nevada and Baja, Mexico.
Native Habitat: Clay soils, dry regions, flats, rocky hillsides, woods, and deserts.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunConditions Comments: Not shade tolerant, needs full sun.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSpecial Value to Bumble Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Additional resources
USDA: Find Asclepias eriocarpa in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Asclepias eriocarpa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Asclepias eriocarpa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2014-10-10Research By: DEW