Milkweed Yellow

Asclepias subulata

Light
Water
Moderate water needs. Water deeply when the upper 1–2 inches of soil dry; increase frequency during extreme heat. Not a low-water desert plant.
Description
The name Asclepias syriaca ‘Yellow’ is not a well-established cultivar name; common milkweed normally has pinkish-purple flowers. Yellow milkweed usually refers to yellow-flowered Asclepias curassavica, such as ‘Hello Yellow’ or ‘Silky Gold’. The care below assumes yellow tropical milkweed; confirm the plant’s identity before purchasing.
Bloom Time
Deciduous / Evergreen
Growth Rate
Flower Color
Foliage Color
Toxic to pets, livestock, and humans if ingested; milky sap is a skin/eye irritant
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat from west-facing walls and pavement.

Water: Moderate water needs. Water deeply when the upper 1–2 inches of soil dry; increase frequency during extreme heat. Not a low-water desert plant.

Soil: Well-drained soil amended with compost; tolerates sandy or loamy soil. Avoid persistently saturated roots.

Mature size: Typically 2–4 feet tall and 1–3 feet wide.

Bloom: Repeated blooms from spring through fall; flowering may slow during extreme summer heat or winter cold.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen without frost; frost can kill foliage and stems. May regrow from protected roots.

Growth rate: Fast during warm weather with adequate moisture.