PlantFiles: Rush Milkweed, Desert Milkweed
Asclepias subulata

I collected my seed while in Las Vegas. I mixed a pot of 2/3 well composted cow manure (very fine black crumbly), and 1/3 all purpose sand. Easy to germinate "if seed is viable". Must keep seedlings consistently moist -- I've lost three seedlings to thinking it is a desert plant and watering inconsistently.

No stratification of seed needed for this species. It will drop it's leaves during drought and continues to photosynthesis via the branches. I've seen Queen caterpillars hosted on this species outside Pheonix, and I've read it is a host plant for the Monarch.
I am hoping to find a Monarch caterpillar on mine, but since I collect milkweeds, I doubt the few Monarch butterflies we get a year will pass the many milkweed species in the yard.

I keep my plant in a 1 gallon pot and let it sit in the south facing window over winter, no additional light. In the future I will try cutting it back to the soil level to simulate a freeze.

Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, Arizona) has a group of plants that they irrigate and were flush with leaves. It was very nice, but my photos didn't turn out. I've found with mine if it is regularly watered it will continue to develop leaves but older leaves regularly expire, shrivel up then drop off, though I think this latter part is due to lack of light. It looks totally different (and better) when full with leaves. In the wild I don't think it is found with many leaves, at least none that I've found.

By the way this species does not get 6 feet tall. I realize that DG height field probably has range selections, but it can get 4 feet. (Asclepias albicans) which looks similar does get 6 feet and taller.

Monarch butterfly's like it as food.
Needs well drained soil.
It has milky sap.
Starting from seed is easy, but I haven't tried it 'yet'.