Asclepias californica is endemic to California but is most widespread in the southern part of the state. This is a drought tolerant species that does well in hot dry conditions. Like other drought tolerant milkweeds  the stems and leaves are covered with a thick covering of long hairs giving the plant a woolly appearance. This plant can be found growing on slopes in clay and sandy soils. Asclepias californica is an important monarch butterfly caterpillar host plant  and chrysalis habitat plant.