Indian milkweed, Woollypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows erect and keeps growing from year to year. It grows 90 cm tall. It usually have thick white hairs. The leaves are sword shaped and pairs or rings or 3 to 4. The flowers are in a large flattened cluster. They are white or cream with a pink tinge. The fruit is a large woolly follicle.

There are 100 Asclepias species. It is used as medicine.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry areas. It suits USDA hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The latex has been used as a chewing gum. It is boiled in water until it coagulates.

Edible parts

Latex, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Asclepias fremontii Torr.;