# Dwarf Milkweed (Asclepias involucrata)

> A tiny, ground-hugging desert milkweed with wavy narrow leaves and pale green flowers held almost at soil level, found on sand and gravel across the Southwest.

Source: https://milkweedusa.com/species/dwarf-milkweed/  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Milkweed USA)

## Summary

A tiny, ground-hugging desert milkweed with wavy narrow leaves and pale green flowers held almost at soil level, found on sand and gravel across the Southwest.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias involucrata Engelm. ex Torr. |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Dwarf Milkweed, Involucrate Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 4 in–10 in |
| Spread | 10 in–1.7 ft |
| Flower color | green, cream |
| Bloom period | April to June |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 5-9 |
| Leaf arrangement | opposite |
| Leaf shape | narrow |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Deep taproot, resents transplanting |
| Seed stratification | 60 days cold-moist |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 2 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 1 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 2 |
| US states recorded | Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah |

## Identification

- Under a foot tall, with stems spreading flat from a central crown.
- Leaf margins conspicuously wavy or crisped.
- Flowers greenish-cream in clusters nestled among the leaves.

## Ecology

A minor but genuine early-season host in desert grassland.

## Growing

Effectively never cultivated.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:94357-1
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170243
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/158743
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_involucrata
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20involucrata.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20involucrata

## Photographs

- Asclepias involucrata - Craig Martin 01 (Craig Martin https://www.inaturalist.org/people/craigmartin, CC0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_involucrata_-_Craig_Martin_01.jpg
- WS-outdoor-southeast-gallery-15 (32778828473) (USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WS-outdoor-southeast-gallery-15_(32778828473).jpg
- Near Cañada Montosa - Flickr - aspidoscelis (Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Near_Ca%C3%B1ada_Montosa_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis.jpg
- Near Cerro de Corazon - Flickr - aspidoscelis (Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Near_Cerro_de_Corazon_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis.jpg
- Dwarf Milkweed photographed in Rio Arriba County, NM, USA (Public domain (CC0), CC0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/24340350
- Dwarf Milkweed photographed in Grant County, NM, USA (Andrew Tree, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/291243715
- Dwarf Milkweed photographed in Santa Fe County, US-NM, US (Anders Hastings, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166490260
- Dwarf Milkweed photographed in Torrance County, NM, USA (Dominic Gentilcore, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96389901

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Dwarf Milkweed (Asclepias involucrata). https://milkweedusa.com/species/dwarf-milkweed/