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Plant of slim milkweed (Asclepias linearis) in an open area.

Slim Milkweed
(Asclepias linearis)

Host Plant: Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Nectar Plant: many insects including other butterflies, bees, and wasps.

Food Source: Birds and mammals

Flower Color: greenish-white

Growth Habit: herbaceous plant growing from 0.5 to 2 feet tall

Range in North America: Texas

Exposure: Prefers full sun

Hardiness: Zones 8-10

Flowering Time: April to October

Soil Requirements: Dry soil

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Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis)

Whitish flower cluster of slim milkweed (Asclepias linearis).
Slim Milkweed Asclepias linearis Scheele
observed in United States of America
by Michelle (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

Alternative Names

no known alternative names

Description of Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis)

Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis), a member of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 0.5′ to 2′ tall and blooms with greenish-white flowers from spring to fall (April to October).  The fruits, which are follicles, mature in the late summer and fall.  More information can be found on this blog post about Slim Milkweed.

Hosted Species

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on goldenrod.
Monarch Butterfly on Goldenrod — ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Queen Butterfly on Twig.
Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) — Korall, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nectar Species

This species is used by other insects and is food for birds and mammals.

Habitat

This species grows in dry prairies, bluestem prairie, and wetlands.

Range of Slim Milkweed (Asclepias linearis) in the United States and Canada

Range of slim milkweed (Asclepias linearis) in the United States and Canada.
Range Map Credit: Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2023.(website https://bonap.org/). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2023. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Asclepias, is named for the Greek god of healing.  The species name, linearis, comes from Latin for “linear” in reference to the leaves.

location

California

usda-plant-hardiness

Zone 10, Zone 9

exposure_requirements

Full Sun, Part Shade/Part Sun

plant_habit

Shrub, Tree

soil_requirements

Dry, Medium, Moist

hosted-species

Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Papilio eurymedon (Pale Swallowtail), Papilio rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail), Satyrium californica (California Hairstreak)

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