# Heartleaf Milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia)

> Arguably the handsomest milkweed in the West: smooth, waxy, blue-gray heart-shaped leaves clasping arching purple stems, hung with clusters of dark wine-red flowers. A Sierra Nevada and Cascade foothill specialty.

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

## Summary

Arguably the handsomest milkweed in the West: smooth, waxy, blue-gray heart-shaped leaves clasping arching purple stems, hung with clusters of dark wine-red flowers. A Sierra Nevada and Cascade foothill specialty.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias cordifolia (Benth.) Jeps. |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Heartleaf Milkweed, Purple Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 1 ft–3 ft |
| Spread | 1.5 ft–2.5 ft |
| Flower color | maroon, purple |
| Bloom period | May to July |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 6-9 |
| Leaf arrangement | opposite |
| Leaf shape | cordate |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Rhizomatous, spreads by root |
| Seed stratification | 30 days cold-moist |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 4 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 5 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 3 |
| US states recorded | California, Nevada, Oregon |

## Identification

- Leaves distinctly heart-shaped, clasping the stem, smooth and blue-glaucous.
- Stems often flushed purple and arching.
- Flowers deep red-purple with paler hoods, in loose nodding clusters.
- Rocky slopes and open conifer forest, 1,000 to 6,500 feet.

## Ecology

A key early host for western monarchs moving into the Sierra foothills, and one of the earliest western milkweeds to leaf out.

## Growing

Outstanding foliage plant for a dry mountain garden. Needs excellent drainage, some afternoon shade at low elevation, and no summer water.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:21169-2
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170280
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62248
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_cordifolia
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20cordifolia.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20cordifolia

## Photographs

- Asclepias cordifolia (First Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_cordifolia.JPG
- Asclepias cordifolia (9105035433) (peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_cordifolia_(9105035433).jpg
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in Plumas County, CA, USA (Steve Matson, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56348191
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in Tuolumne County, CA, USA (Michael Warner, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/170586529
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in El Dorado County, US-CA, US (Public domain (CC0), CC0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82018421
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in Alpine County, CA, USA (Tim Messick, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/220301183
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in Briones, CA 94553, USA (Ken-ichi Ueda, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/283830447
- Heartleaf Milkweed photographed in Washoe County, NV, USA (Spencer Hurt, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/363969442

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Heartleaf Milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia). https://milkweedusa.com/species/heartleaf-milkweed/