Asclepias linaria * Pineneedle Milkweed
You can see the Monarch Butterfly caterpillar feeding away on this Pineneedle Milkweed. Asclepias linaria is native to the California deserts with its range extending into Arizona and Mexico. Asclepias fascicularis produces sprays of white flowers during the warmer months. The Pineneedle Milkweed is about 2 feet tall. The leaves are well described by the species epithet "linaria" as they are very slender. Asclepias linaria will attract the Acmon Blue, Common Buckeye, Northern White Skipper, Mormon Metalmark, California Common Ringlet, Great Purple Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Giant Swallowtail, and Monarchs as a nectar resource. Asclepias linaria is a great addition to the butterfly garden.
Flowers and foliage of Asclepias linaria the Pineneedle Milkweed with a Monarch Caterpillar.
Tarantula Hawks, Carpenter Bees and Yellow Faced Bumblebees feeding on nectar from Asclepias eriocarpa, Woollypod Milkweed. Milkweeds are important to so much more wildlife beyond butterflies. High resolution videos are part of our garden image collection.
Plants from the old Asclepidacea Family featured on this site. This is now considered a subfamily in the Apocynaceae Family or Dogbane Family. This is relevant because these plants are nectar and caterpillar food for the Monarch Butterflies:
Asclepias angustifolia * Arizona Milkweed
Asclepias californica * California Milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia * Purple Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica * Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica Red Butterflies * Red Butterflies Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica Silky Gold * Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa * Woollypod Milkweed, Indian Milkweed, Kotolo Milkweed
Aslepias erosa * Desert Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis * Narrow Leaf Milkweed
Asclepias linaria * Pine Needle Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa * Showy Milkweed
Asclepias subulata * Rush Milkweed, Skeleton Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa * Butterfly Weed
Other milkweed relatives:
Araujia sericifera * Bladder Vine, Cruel Vine, Moth Vine
Gomphocarpus fruticosus * Swan Milkweed, Narrow Leaf Cotton Plant
Gomphocarpus physocarpus * Family Jewels, Hairy Balls
Hoya carnosa * Wax Vine