asclepias fascicularis narrow-leaf milkweed

Found on dry slopes and valleys throughout California. 2-3 feet tall, with narrow gray-green leaves. Ivory-pink flowers occur in clusters. Dormant in fall/winter. Shortly after planting this in Los Altos Hills we found it covered with caterpillars who ate it to the ground. We planted several more, worrying over the obvious shortage of this food source. All plants were eaten to the ground quickly. We assumed the plants were dead but the following spring the hillside was covered with milkweed.