Narrow-leaf Milkweed – Asclepias fascicularis (as-KLEP-ee-us fas-SICK-you-LARE-us)

Family: Asclepiadiceae (Milkweed family)

Native to: West Coast from WA to Baja CA. Grows in colonies on plains, hills, and valleys, in winter –wet

but summer-dry areas.

Growth characteristics: Herbaceous perennial mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: to 3 ft.

Perennial herb from stout woody rootstock. Clump add new stems each year, so increases slowly in

diameter. Leaves light green, narrow-linear. Dies back to ground fall/winter.

Blooms/fruits: May-Sept. Small pink-crème flowers grow in showy “heads” above the foliage.

Uses in the garden: In mixed flower beds, where showy flowers can be appreciated. One of our best

butterfly plants, so often included in butterfly gardens. Does NOT do as well in pots. Plant was used as a medicine plant and fiber source by Native Californians. All parts of plant are toxic if eaten.

Sensible substitute for: non-native Milkweeds

Attracts: Bees, Milkweed Beetles and butterflies (larval food source for Monarch butterfly)

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun to part-shade

Soil Best in well-drained, but tolerates clay soils; any pH is fine

Water Average needs in spring/summer – don’t over-water; tolerates some winter-spring flooding

Fertilizer None needed

Other May benefit from mulching

Management: Cut back to ground in winter. Limiting water in summer will keep from becoming invasive.

Propagation: from seed: collect pods when ripe (tan) but before they open. Plant fresh seeds in fall in

prepared beds. by divisions: divide in fall, at time of first rains. Be sure each piece of rhizome has at

least 1 bud. Irrigate until plants are established.

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 20, 24, 25 1/18/15 © Project SOUND

Asclepias fascicularis Narrowleaf Milkweed