General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 36 - 48 inches
Plant Spread: 24 - 36 inches
Leaves: Semi-evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: Contains many silk-like seeds
Fruiting Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Flower Color: White
Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Roots are poisonous
Fruit is poisonous
Other: Entire plant is toxic, milk can be a skin irritant.
Propagation: Seeds: Days to germinate: 3-30
Other info: Does not require scarification but germinates better if soaked in water 12-48 hrs before planting.
Pollinators: Moths and Butterflies
Bees
Various insects
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Rush Milkweed
  • Desert Milkweed
  • Ajamete
  • Milkweed

Photo Gallery
Location: My backyard
Date: 2021-07-23
Young seedlings
Location: Las Vegas
Date: June
photo by Stan Shebs
Location: My backyard
Date: 2021-07-23
Young seedlings
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: 2020-06-20
taken at Walter Andersen nursery, Poway CA
Location: Las Vegas
Date: May
photo by Stan Shebs

Photo courtesy of: davidbygott
Comments:
  • Posted by sheryl (Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ - Zone 9b) on Oct 2, 2013 4:55 PM concerning plant:
    Very important plant in the Arizona deserts for Monarch and Striated Queen Butterfly - larval food. Will also grow in California and Northern New Mexico - one source I see says Nevada, but I'm betting it is an annual there.

    Very tough plant!

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