[2] It has triangular to elliptical foliage with wavy margins, stems up to 16 inches (410 mm) long, and grows low to the ground (hence the name, which refers to a prostrate growth habit) in sandy soils.

Like other milkweeds, A. prostrata flowers are a food source for pollinator insects such as bees, wasps, and the Monarch butterfly.

[5] Native to Starr, Hidalgo, and Zapata counties of South Texas and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, it is one of the rarest species of milkweed.

[6] In 2022, the US Fish & Wildlife Service proposed adding prostrate milkweed to the endangered species list and defining just under 700 acres of critical habitats that should be protected in order to preserve it.

[7] It is most threatened by habitat loss due to human development and invasive species such as buffelgrass.