# Tufted Milkweed (Asclepias nummularia)

> One of the smallest milkweeds in North America, a low tuft of tiny round woolly leaves on rocky Arizona desert slopes, easy to walk past even in flower.

Source: https://milkweedusa.com/species/tufted-milkweed/  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Milkweed USA)

## Summary

One of the smallest milkweeds in North America, a low tuft of tiny round woolly leaves on rocky Arizona desert slopes, easy to walk past even in flower.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Asclepias nummularia Torr. |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Common names | Tufted Milkweed, Roundleaf Milkweed |
| Status | Native |
| Height | 2 in–8 in |
| Spread | 6 in–1.2 ft |
| Flower color | cream, green |
| Bloom period | April to August |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil moisture | Dry |
| USDA zones | 7-10 |
| Leaf arrangement | opposite |
| Leaf shape | orbicular |
| Sap | Milky latex |
| Root system | Deep taproot, resents transplanting |
| Seed stratification | 30 days cold-moist |
| Monarch value (0-5) | 1 |
| Garden value (0-5) | 1 |
| Nectar value (0-5) | 2 |
| US states recorded | Arizona |

## Identification

- Tiny, nearly circular, densely hairy leaves.
- Whole plant usually under six inches tall.
- Rocky slopes and desert grassland in central and southern Arizona.

## Ecology

A poorly documented Sonoran Desert specialist of limited but real value to desert pollinators.

## Growing

Not in cultivation.

## Cautions

Standard milkweed cautions.

## References

- Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:94488-1
- GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/3170341
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/158751
- BONAP county map: https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Asclepias%20nummularia.png
- NatureServe: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search?searchTerm=Asclepias%20nummularia

## Photographs

- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Old CCC Trail, Fort Davis, TX 79734, USA (Alison Northup, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21475553
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Santa Cruz County, AZ, USA (Sue Carnahan, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198672573
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Brewster County, TX, USA (Public domain (CC0), CC0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46385918
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Cochise County, AZ, USA (Laura Gaudette, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/358728655
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in 34460 Dgo., México (Miriam Sanchez Loera, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/205736632
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Fort Davis, TX 79734, USA (mattmsa, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60958917
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Zacatecas, Mexico (quirino, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/356173396
- Tufted Milkweed photographed in Finley Tank Rd, Elgin, AZ, US (Brad Grimm, CC BY 4.0): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/30908463

## How to cite

Milkweed USA. (2026). Tufted Milkweed (Asclepias nummularia). https://milkweedusa.com/species/tufted-milkweed/