SafePlants

Heartleaf Milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia)

Asclepias cordifolia, commonly known as heartleaf milkweed or purple milkweed, is a captivating plant native to the western United States.

Considerations for Pets

• As a milkweed, Asclepias cordifolia contains sap that could be a concern if ingested by pets.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Asclepias cordifolia
• Common Names: Heartleaf milkweed, Purple milkweed
• Synonym: Gomphocarpus cordifolius
• Taxonomic Family: Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae, now part of Apocynaceae)
• Authority: (Benth.) Jepson

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the mountains of the west coast states of the United States, specifically California (mostly the northern half), Oregon, and Nevada.
• Grows naturally on disturbed sites and rocky hillsides.
• Found in meadows in the Sierra Nevada in California and in the foothills of the Little Applegate Valley in southern Oregon.

Morphology and Growth Habit

• Grows in clumps.
• It is a winter-dormant milkweed, meaning it dies back in the winter.
• It is hairless with ascending stems.
• Leaves are large and smooth, with an elongated, heart-shaped form.
• Flowers are purple and arranged in more open, drooping umbels (clusters).
• Can reach 80-110 cm in height.
• Deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves seasonally.

Ecological Role

• Essential habitat for monarch butterflies, as milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat.
• Attracts beautiful butterflies.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Monarch butterflies lay eggs on the leaves of heartleaf milkweed.
• Can be host to yellow aphids.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden: A community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
• Native Plant Network: Provides information on different milkweed species.
• Discover Life: Features a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Asclepias cordifolia.
• CalPhotos: Offers images of Asclepias cordifolia.