SafePlants

Asclepias eriocarpa: Woollypod Milkweed

Asclepias eriocarpa, a member of the milkweed family, is known by several common names, including woollypod milkweed, Indian milkweed, and kotolo.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Asclepias eriocarpa
• Common Names: Woollypod milkweed, Indian milkweed, kotolo
• Family: Asclepiadaceae (now often included within Apocynaceae)
• Synonyms: Asclepias fremontii, Asclepias kotolo
• Rank: Species
• USDA Symbol: ASER

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to California, with fifteen species of milkweed present, the majority of them being heartleaf milkweed.
• Found in clay soils and dry areas.
• Can survive fairly close to the coast, but is fairly easy to grow in inland valleys and mountains in California.

Morphological Characteristics

• The entire plant, except for the flowers, is covered with fine hairs, giving it a silvery tint.
• Growth Habit: Forb/herb.
• Duration: Perennial.

Ecological Role

• Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed plants (Asclepias genus), including Asclepias eriocarpa.
• The presence of milkweed is crucial for Monarch butterfly egg-laying, as it stimulates this behavior.
• A single woollypod milkweed plant has been observed hosting hundreds of insects representing dozens of different species.
• Much of milkweed has been lost from the landscape due to changing land.

Traditional Uses

• The Costanoan people used a decoction of the plant and plant salve for colds.

Resources

• View Woollypod milkweed observations on iNaturalist.
• View Woollypod milkweed plant information at Wildflower.org.
• Dave's Garden