Heart-leaf milkweed was valued by the Native American Miwok tribe for its stems, which they dried and processed into string and rope.

[3] Heart-leaf milkweed is a perennial that grows to a height of 0.3 to 0.6 m (1 to 2 ft), with dark red-purple flowers whose hoods are slightly elevated above the base of the corolla.

The fruit (photo at left) is a follicle with many flat seeds that have silky hairs which disperse easily in the wind.

The dry stems were combed with a loop of willow to draw out the fiber just beneath the very thin outer skin.

[3] A single Miwok feather skirt or cape was made with approximately 100 feet of cordage, requiring about 500 plant stalks.