Asclepias mexicana

Asclepias mexicana Cav. is native to Mexico and lives for years. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. Kew places it in a subtropical climate. Reports place it in Chihuahua and Nuevo León. They also list Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí. Its range includes central Mexico, Oaxaca, and Veracruz as well. Plants For A Future does not know its wild habitat. The Royal Horticultural Society does not list it as native to Britain.

Plants For A Future gives its height as 2.6 feet [0.8 metres]. The sources give no width for this species. They give no details on its leaves or stems. They do not state its flower colour or bloom season. Nor do they describe the form of its fruit. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. These include butterflies and moths. The evidence lists garden beds as a place to grow it.

Choose a sunny site where the soil drains well. Light, rich, or peaty soil suits this plant. It also grows in poor soil and light shade. The soil can range from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Plants For A Future lists both dry and moist soil. Its cold limits are less clear. The source lists USDA zones 5–9, but its notes disagree. One account says it needs a greenhouse in Britain. Another says it can live through cold near −4°F [−20°C]. These claims leave doubt about winter survival outdoors.

Plants For A Future says to sow seed under glass. Sow in autumn, late winter, or early spring. Stored seed may need two to three weeks of cold treatment. Seeds can take one to three months to sprout at 64°F [18°C]. Move young plants to their own pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under glass through their first winter. Plant them out while they grow in late spring or early summer. Guard young plants from slugs until they take hold. You can also divide plants in spring, but roots dislike disturbance.

Take care with reports of uses, since names have become confused. Plants For A Future warns that some may concern Asclepias fascicularis. It lists possible uses for cooked flowers and latex from this species. These uses are not firm facts about this species. The source gives views on flower safety that conflict. It has no confirmed report of toxic effects for this species. It also lists no known use as medicine. This evidence does not show that the plant is safe to eat.