Asclepias fascicularis - Butterfly Weed

Description

This tough perennial grows throughout California and is the favorite larval food of the monarch butterfly. 3 foot tall stalks of narrow green leaves are topped with rosy pink flowers in summer. If you are lucky, the leaves will be munched on by the stunning monarch caterpillars, almost as pretty as the adults. Winter dormant, dying back in late summer, reemerging in Spring. If kept dry, can take rocky to clay soil.