< Back

Twining Milkweed

Funastrum hirtellum

1 Gallon

Twining Milkweed

Out of stock

Sizes:

Twining Milkweed - Funastrum hirtellum

Also known as: Hairy Climbing Milkweed

Twining Milkweed is a slender, twining perennial vine native to the southwestern United States, including the Colorado Desert, as well as parts of the Mojave Desert and northern Mexico. It is most often found in desert washes and along sandy or gravelly flats, where it naturally grows up and through surrounding shrubs for support. In the landscape, however, it is better suited to more intentional structure - such as a trellis, arbor, or fence - where it can climb and be appreciated without becoming tangled or lost among other plants. It can reach several feet in length depending on what it is given to climb.

This is one of the lesser-known milkweeds that plays an important role in supporting both Monarch and Queen butterflies. Like other milkweeds, it serves as a host plant, providing a place for females to lay eggs and food for developing caterpillars. Its vining habit adds a different structural layer to a habitat garden, allowing you to incorporate host plants vertically rather than only at ground level.

The stems are thin and flexible, with narrow, opposite leaves that may have a slightly fuzzy texture. Like other milkweeds, the plant contains a milky sap. Clusters of soft lavender to pale purple flowers appear along the stems, subtle at a distance but quite beautiful up close and highly attractive to pollinators. After flowering, long, narrow seed pods develop, eventually splitting open to release silky, wind-dispersed seeds.

Funastrum hirtellum thrives in full sun to light shade and prefers well-drained soils, including sandy and rocky conditions. It is highly drought tolerant once established. Providing a structure for it to climb not only keeps it looking intentional in the landscape, but also makes it easier to observe Monarch and Queen activity, along with the flowers and developing seed pods.

Wildlife Value
Host Plant: Monarch (Danaus plexippus); Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Nectar Source: Supports a variety of pollinators including native bees (various families), wasps, and butterflies.
Bird Resources: Nesting Material (seed floss); Insects
Bird Species: Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria); House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Lavender

Flower season:

Spring; Summer; Fall

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

Hardy to approximately 25–30°F; may die back in frost but can recover from the base in mild climates.

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.