Asclepias nyctaginifolia

Mojave milkweed, Mojave milkweed, Mojave milkweed

Family: Apocynaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Mojave milkweed is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert in arroyos and dry slopes at elevations of 1,000 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces green-white flowers with purple undersides, partially reflexed with distinctive white-green hoods that extend beyond the flower base. Growing with decumbent to ascending hairy stems, it forms a low-spreading habit characteristic of desert environments. Its opposite leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, creating a soft textural backdrop to the complex flower structure. The plant produces erect fruits with seeds approximately 7 to 8 millimeters long, adapted to the harsh desert conditions.

Habitat: Arroyos, dry slopes

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: 1000-1700 m

Bioregions: DMoj

California counties: San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.