Whitestem milkweed
Asclepias albicans
Last reviewed: September 2026
Whitestem milkweed (Asclepias albicans) is a perennial succulent native to AZ, CA. It blooms in March, April, May, and June. The flowers draw bees, wasps, and butterflies.
Whitestem milkweed is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
36"–96" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA
Pollinators
bees, wasps, butterflies
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Upright, nearly leafless perennial with slender gray-green stems that store water, producing clusters of small cream-colored flowers near the stem tips in spring, growing on dry rocky desert slopes.
Growing Whitestem milkweed
Grow Whitestem milkweed in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for monarch.
Like other milkweeds, it is a larval host plant for monarch butterflies, and its flowers are a nectar source for bees and wasps.
Common questions
- How much sun does Whitestem milkweed need?
- Whitestem milkweed grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Whitestem milkweed bloom?
- Whitestem milkweed blooms in March, April, May, and June.
- Where is Whitestem milkweed native?
- Whitestem milkweed (Asclepias albicans) is native to AZ, CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Whitestem milkweed toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Whitestem milkweed is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Whitestem milkweed toxic to cats?
- Yes. Whitestem milkweed is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What butterflies or moths does Whitestem milkweed host?
- Whitestem milkweed is a larval host plant for monarch.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Whitestem milkweed and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.