# Woolly Milkweed (Asclepias vestita)

> A low, densely white-woolly milkweed of California’s San Joaquin Valley and adjacent desert edges, with crowded pale yellow-cream flowers and thick felted leaves.

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

## Summary

A low, densely white-woolly milkweed of California’s San Joaquin Valley and adjacent desert edges, with crowded pale yellow-cream flowers and thick felted leaves.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias vestita Hook. & Arn. |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Woolly Milkweed, Vestita Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 1 ft–3 ft |
| Spread | 1.5 ft–2.5 ft |
| Flower color | cream, yellow |
| Bloom period | April to July |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 8-10 |
| Leaf arrangement | alternate |
| Leaf shape | oblong |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Deep taproot, resents transplanting |
| Seed stratification | 30 days cold-moist |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 3 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 2 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 2 |
| US states recorded | California, Nevada |

## Identification

- Heavily white-woolly throughout, often looking almost gray-white.
- Leaves broad, thick and crowded along sprawling stems.
- Pale cream to yellowish flowers in tight clusters.

## Ecology

A host in the hot interior valleys where few other milkweeds persist through summer.

## Growing

Rarely cultivated; needs heat, sun and no summer irrigation.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:94723-1
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170336
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58529
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_vestita
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20vestita.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20vestita

## Photographs

- Asclepias vestita (Chloe and Trevor Van Loon, CC BY 4.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepias_vestita.jpg
- (Asclepias vestita in California, envelope IE03-131) - DPLA - 2f9e7b02bb8344f7df91d05efb8cdaa1 (Carlquist, Sherwin John, 1930-2021, CC BY 4.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(Asclepias_vestita_in_California,_envelope_IE03-131)_-_DPLA_-_2f9e7b02bb8344f7df91d05efb8cdaa1.jpg
- (Asclepias vestita in California, envelope IE03-132) - DPLA - c3afaf4bcb4a091e9bd636f7b419ce11 (Carlquist, Sherwin John, 1930-2021, CC BY 4.0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(Asclepias_vestita_in_California,_envelope_IE03-132)_-_DPLA_-_c3afaf4bcb4a091e9bd636f7b419ce11.jpg
- Woolly Milkweed photographed in Madera County, US-CA, US (Public domain (CC0), CC0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84324641
- Woolly Milkweed photographed in Mariposa, CA, US (wonton_soup, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/278895644
- Woolly Milkweed photographed in Pinnacles National Park, Paicines, CA, US (Pinnacles National Park, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13701289
- Woolly Milkweed photographed in Piñon Hills, CA 92372, USA (Wendy Walker, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/370216551
- Woolly Milkweed photographed in San Luis Obispo County, CA, USA (Trevor Van Loon, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/163480362

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Woolly Milkweed (Asclepias vestita). https://milkweedusa.com/species/woolly-milkweed-vestita/