Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Asclepias cryptoceras is a species of milkweed known by the common names pallid milkweed and Humboldt Mountains milkweed. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially dry areas. This is a perennial herb growing low against the ground or drooping. It arises from a fleshy, woody rhizome-like root. The thick leaves are round to heart-shaped and arranged oppositely on the short stem. The flower cluster is a cluster of small flowers with centers of bright to dull pink hoods surrounded by pale-colored reflexed corollas. The fruit is a follicle held erect on a small stalk.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Calscape icon
Color

Cream, Red, Pink

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Site type

Sandy or gravelly slopes, canyon botms, dry plains

Plant communities

Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Queen

Danaus gilippus

Monarch

Danaus plexippus