Experience the beauty and utility of Asclepias cordifolia, commonly known as the Heart-leaf Milkweed or Purple Milkweed. Native to the western United States, it flourishes in the northern Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges at elevations ranging from 150 ft to 6500 ft. Adored for its dark red-purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves, it blooms from May to July. The milkweed is named after its milky sap that exudes from its stems. This stunning plant was treasured by the Native American Miwok tribe, who used its stems to make string and rope. The Monarch Butterfly's caterpillars are often found on this plant, retaining the plant's alkaloids even after metamorphosis, making them unpalatable to predators. Apart from its striking beauty and appeal to Monarchs, Heart-leaf Milkweed also had medicinal uses, including being a contraceptive and a snakebite remedy. However, caution is advised due to the sap's cardenolides, which can cause vomiting or even prove fatal if improperly prepared. Discover this remarkable species, a blend of beauty, utility, and ecology.
