Asclepias solanoana

Serpentine milkweed, serpentine milkweed, serpentine milkweed

Family: Apocynaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Serpentine milkweed is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges on serpentine outcrops at elevations of 700 to 1,600 meters. Flowering in June, this plant produces distinctive purple flowers in a well-defined spherical cluster with white-tinged hoods. Growing with prostrate stems that are slightly hairy, it spreads close to the ground with a low-growing habit. Its opposite leaves are uniquely shaped, ranging from kidney-like (reniform) to heart-shaped (cordate) or egg-shaped (ovate), with some leaves clasping the stem. The plant bears erect fruits on slightly reflexed pedicels, with seeds measuring 5.5 to 8 millimeters long.

Habitat: Serpentine outcrops

Bloom period: Jun

Elevation: 700-1600 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoR.

California counties: Lake, Trinity, Colusa, Mendocino, Sonoma, Glenn, Shasta, Tehama, Napa

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