Asclepias latifolia
Broadleaf milkweed
(c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apocynaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Asclepias latifolia (Broadleaf milkweed) is a native California herb in the Apocynaceae family, recognized by extirpated, distinctive wide-elliptic leaves.
Broadleaf milkweed is a California native perennial found in the North Coast Ranges Interior (specifically noted from a historical Yolo County record) in dry washes at approximately 150 meters elevation. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces cream-green flowers with purple-tinged undertones, featuring distinctive reflexed or spreading corollas. Growing with erect, very hairy stems that become less hairy with age, it develops a robust herbaceous form. Its opposite leaves are wide-elliptic to lanceolate, with bases that are tapered or obtuse and tips that are often notched or truncate, measuring generally 7 to 8 millimeters long. The plant produces erect fruits on slightly reflexed pedicels, adding to its distinctive woodland appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; extirpated, distinctive wide-elliptic leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry washes
Elevation: +- 150 m.
Outside California: to South Dakota, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Asclepias latifolia blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Gomphocarpus: Asclepias has hoods that touch or nearly touch at their edges; Gomphocarpus has gaps between hood edges.; vs Erigeron: Asclepias has rounded umbel clusters with large individual flowers; Erigeron has daisy-like flowers with many thin ray petals.; vs Lantana: Asclepias has reflexed petals with a raised hood crown; Lantana has flat-faced tubular flowers in dense rounded heads.; vs Apocynum: Asclepias has large showy flowers in dome-shaped clusters; Apocynum has tiny bell-shaped flowers in branched sprays.; vs Baccharis: Asclepias has milky sap and large distinctive flowers; Baccharis has clear sap and tiny fuzzy composite flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Asclepias latifolia native to California?
Yes. Asclepias latifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Asclepias latifolia bloom?
Asclepias latifolia blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Asclepias latifolia belong to?
Asclepias latifolia is in the Apocynaceae family, genus Asclepias.
What habitat does Asclepias latifolia grow in?
Asclepias latifolia grows in dry washes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.