# Mahogany Milkweed (Asclepias hypoleuca)

> A handsome sky-island milkweed whose broad leaves are conspicuously white beneath, carrying nodding clusters of deep mahogany-red flowers with pale cream hoods through the monsoon season.

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

## Summary

A handsome sky-island milkweed whose broad leaves are conspicuously white beneath, carrying nodding clusters of deep mahogany-red flowers with pale cream hoods through the monsoon season.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias hypoleuca (A. Gray) Woodson |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Mahogany Milkweed, White-leaf Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 1 ft–2.5 ft |
| Spread | 1 ft–2 ft |
| Flower color | maroon, cream |
| Bloom period | June to September |
| Light | Part shade, Full sun |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 6-9 |
| Leaf arrangement | opposite |
| Leaf shape | ovate |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Deep taproot, resents transplanting |
| Seed stratification | 30 days cold-moist |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 3 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 3 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 3 |
| US states recorded | Arizona, New Mexico |

## Identification

- Leaf undersides distinctly white or chalky, which is the giveaway character.
- Flowers rich mahogany-brown to maroon with contrasting cream hoods.
- Oak woodland and canyon slopes in the Arizona and New Mexico mountains.

## Ecology

A monsoon-season host and nectar source in the borderland sky islands, where it often grows alongside Lemmon’s milkweed.

## Growing

Occasionally offered by specialist Southwest nurseries. Needs sharp drainage and light shade at low elevation.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:21202-2
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170298
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/158742
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20hypoleuca.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20hypoleuca

## Photographs

- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Barfoot Park, Arizona (Sam Kieschnick, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8058885
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Coronado National Forest, Rio Rico, AZ, US (Aaron Liston, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29778460
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Rustler Park Chiricahua mtns Cochise county Arizona  (Gordon C. Snelling, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2464049
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Cochise County, AZ, USA (Sue Carnahan, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/272059626
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Coronado National Forest, Willcox, AZ, US (Katherine Parys, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93219331
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Butterfly Trail, Mt. Lemmon, Pima County, AZ, USA (Ken-ichi Ueda, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28269048
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Pima County, US-AZ, US (Mike Ostrowski, CC BY-SA 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/371345086
- Mahogany Milkweed photographed in Sierra Vista Southeast, AZ, USA (Alina Martin, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178977979

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Mahogany Milkweed (Asclepias hypoleuca). https://milkweedusa.com/species/mahogany-milkweed/