perennialN. America Native

Antelope-horns

Q: What zones can Antelope-horns grow in?

Antelope-horns is hardy in USDA Zones 7–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: When does Antelope-horns bloom?

Antelope-horns typically blooms in spring through fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Q: Does Antelope-horns need full sun?

Antelope-horns does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Q: Is Antelope-horns drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Antelope-horns handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.

Asclepias asperula

$23.00

The Story

Plant Bio

Asclepias asperula, commonly known as antelope-horns, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial native to dry prairies and desert-edge environments of the southwestern and central United States and northern Mexico. Multiple sprawling to upright stems arise from a stout, deep central taproot, bearing narrow, pubescent leaves that fold upward into a distinct V-shape.

The distinctive terminal flower clusters form globose, pale greenish-yellow wheels highlighted by curved, purplish-maroon hoods resembling antelope horns. These blooms serve as an essential early-season larval host for monarch and queen butterflies while providing abundant nectar for native bees.

Uses & Benefits:

Globose, pale green and purple flower wheels provide structural interest in dry, rocky garden beds.

Highly drought-tolerant once established, requiring no supplemental watering or fertilization in arid landscapes.

Serves as an essential larval host plant for monarch and queen butterflies, and provides high-value nectar for native bees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

36"

Width

24"

Light

Full Sun

Zones

7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Moderate to low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

North America

Toxicity

Toxic if ingested; skin and eye irritant

Bloom period

Spring – Fall

In flower about 9 months of the year

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Plant Delights Nursery

<1 Gal Pot1+ Gal Pot

In Stock$23.00

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Select a planting site in full sun with lean, sandy, rocky, or clay-caliche soil that drains rapidly.
Sow seeds directly in late fall to allow natural cold-moist stratification, or plant small plugs in spring without disturbing their roots.
Water sparingly during the first growing season to help the deep taproot establish, then cease supplemental irrigation entirely.
Leave the surrounding soil unmulched or use a thin layer of gravel; organic mulches retain too much moisture around the crown.

Pro Tip

Establish this species from small plugs or direct-sown seeds in lean, gravelly, exceptionally well-drained soil, and leave it entirely undisturbed; attempting to transplant a mature specimen will break its brittle, deep taproot and kill the plant.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in exceptionally well-drained, lean soil to prevent root rot.
Prune back dead, dry stems in late winter before new basal growth emerges.
Monitor new growth in spring for oleander aphids and manage them with a sharp spray of water if colonization is heavy.

Don't

Do not fertilize, as nutrient-rich soils cause weak, leggy growth and shorten the plant's lifespan.
Do not attempt to transplant or move established specimens due to their fragile, deep taproot.
Do not overwater or plant in low-lying areas where water collects.
Do not cut into the old, leafless woody crown tissue below active growth buds when pruning.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pest Check
Propagate
Spring Cleanup
Winter Prep

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Native Wildflower GardensRock GardensButterfly and Pollinator GardensXeriscapingDry Prairies

Companion Plants

Melampodium leucanthum Nolina texana Bouteloua gracilis Salvia greggii

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Antelope-horns questions

What zones can Antelope-horns grow in?

Antelope-horns is hardy in USDA Zones 7–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

When does Antelope-horns bloom?

Antelope-horns typically blooms in spring through fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Antelope-horns need full sun?

Antelope-horns does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Antelope-horns drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Antelope-horns handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.