New and Unread Tree-Mails
 (7)
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Tropical Milkweed |
| (2)
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Scarlet Milkweed |
| (2)
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Bloodflower |
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Milkweed |
| Plant Habit: | Herb/Forb |
| Life cycle: | Perennial |
| Sun Requirements: | Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Minimum cold hardiness: | Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F) |
| Maximum recommended zone: | Zone 11 |
| Plant Height: | 2-3 feet |
| Plant Spread: | 1.5-2 feet |
| Leaves: | Evergreen Other: Grows best in light, rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil in full sun. It has a much longer flowering period than the perennial milkweeds. Pointed, opposite, lanceolate leaves (to 6" long). Leaves are medium green sometimes with white midribs. Monarch |
| Flowers: | Showy |
| Flower Color: | Other: Red-orange with yellow hood |
| Flower Time: | Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall |
| Uses: | Cut Flower Suitable as Annual |
| Wildlife Attractant: | Bees Butterflies Hummingbirds |
| Resistances: | Deer Resistant |
| Toxicity: | Other: Consider wearing gloves when working with these plants because the milky sap is poisonous if ingested and can be toxic to human skin. Plants can be poisonous to livestock. Take precautions as far as preventing any accidental contact of the sap with your e |
| Propagation: Other methods: | Cuttings: Stem |
Early Milkweed for the MonarchsAsclepias curassavica is not winter hardy here in North Central Texas, so in order to have fresh milkweed ready for the Monarchs as they return from their wintering in Mexico, I keep milkweed in large pots and bring them into the garage during freezing weather and then take them out again when the danger of frost is past. This way, I have plants for them to lay their eggs on in the spring.
(Full article • 13 comments)
(33)
| Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 25, 2013 2:31 PM We have to grow Tropical Milkweed as an annual here as it dies out in the winter. Still, it is well worth it to plant the Tropical Milkweed each year, as once it starts blooming, it just continues to bloom all season long. And those flowers are bright and very pretty. It is a host plant for Monarch caterpillars. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by Catmint20906 (Maryland - Zone 7a) on Aug 22, 2014 7:18 PM Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a larval host plant for the Monarch and Queen butterflies, and an important Monarch Way Station plant. It is an excellent source of nectar for late season butterflies and moths, drawing a variety of pollinators. Hardy in zones 9-11, it will grow to full height and bloom prolifically in a single season in cooler zones. Look for Monarch eggs on the leaves! [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by frostweed (Arlington, Texas - Zone 8a) on Oct 26, 2011 2:00 PM Asclepias curassavica is poisonous to humans and it is deciduous in zone 8a, but it comes back from the roots in spring. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Feb 2, 2012 6:54 AM Beautiful plant that does well here in Tennessee and attracts butterflies galore. Will die to the ground after hard frost or freeze. Easy to collect seeds from the large pods when they split open. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by krancmm (Texas Gulf Coast - Zone 9b) on May 21, 2012 12:58 PM In the warmest zones, 9b-11, plant can reach 6'x4' and remains evergreen. In Dec 2011-Jan 2012 there were 75-100 monarch cats at different instars feasting on a huge plant in my yard - Texas Gulf Coast. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 11, 2011 4:37 PM Scarlet Milkweed is an evergreen perennial that does well in full sun to partially shady locations of the garden. It has beautiful orange/red blooms in the summer months that attract butterflies. Scarlet Milkweed is also a larval host plant for the caterpillars of the Monarch Butterfly. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by sallyg (central Maryland) on Dec 12, 2018 12:11 AM Tropical milkweed grows very well in my zone 7 Maryland garden as an annual, may self sow a bit. Easy to root from fall cuttings and can be kept inside over winter that way, and will grow quickly once planted back out. Monarch caterpillars do love it. Can get aphids some years, watch for aphids if you bring in seedlings or cuttings over winter.. [ Reply to this comment | |
| Posted by succulentlife (San Clemente, CA - Zone 10a) on Aug 10, 2019 9:13 AM I read this recently in a local paper. "Tropical milkweed becomes a problem when planted in temperate areas where it does not die back in winter. A protozoan parasite of monarch butterflies (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha or OE for short) can travel with monarchs visiting the plants and become deposited on leaves. When caterpillars hatch and start eating the plant, they ingest the OE. High OE levels in adult monarchs have been linked to lower migration success in the eastern monarch population, as well as reductions in body mass, lifespan, mating success, and flight ability." [ Reply to this comment | |
| piksihk | On February 11, 2019 | Maintenance performed pruned down - |
| piksihk | On January 4, 2017 | Miscellaneous Event two days of below freezing - zapped them; |
| piksihk | On December 19, 2016 | Miscellaneous Event still blooms and couple of monarchs |
| piksihk | On July 12, 2016 | Miscellaneous Event several cats on plants |
| piksihk | On May 27, 2016 | Miscellaneous Event seed pods bursting open |
| piksihk | On December 3, 2015 | Harvested HW's - collected seeds |
| chelle | On August 22, 2014 | Bloomed These plants were sown during 2013 seed collection. |
| Catmint20906 | On June 20, 2015 | Bloomed |
| Mindypin | On July 20, 2016 | Transplanted Planted all 4 in front east-facing flower bed in the 103 degree heat |
| Mindypin | On July 11, 2016 | Transplanted Potted the one from dogwooderitternet |
| Mindypin | On July 11, 2016 | Obtained plant Bought 4 from ozarkmountainplants on eBay |
| Mindypin | On July 6, 2016 | Obtained plant Bought 1 from dogwooderitternet on eBay |
| MunchkinsMom | On June 13, 2016 | Transplanted Small bed |
| MunchkinsMom | On June 9, 2016 | Obtained plant 2 plants $4.75 each 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" pot, about 12" tall, have a couple of leaves yellowing, but also have buds coming on |
| MunchkinsMom | On June 5, 2016 | Miscellaneous Event Ordered 2 plants from Dogwood eBay |
| lovesblooms | On March 3, 2018 | Seeds sown winter sown |
| taterpye | On July 18, 2020 | Bloomed |
| taterpye | On June 28, 2020 | Plant emerged |
| taterpye | On June 12, 2020 | Seeds sown Desert Garden |
| Thread Title | Last Reply | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Untitled by plantladylin | May 29, 2012 4:55 PM | 2 |
| Bi-colored flower looks like A. curassavica by purpleinopp | Feb 5, 2015 6:35 AM | 3 |
| Looks like Tropical milkweed, A. curassavica by purpleinopp | Nov 18, 2015 12:59 PM | 3 |
| Wow! by cliftoncat | Nov 19, 2015 2:34 PM | 1 |
| Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) seeds by tx_flower_child | Sep 17, 2016 9:18 AM | 1 |
| Identify by Tkhan | Sep 21, 2020 5:32 PM | 3 |
| Need Plant Identified by A2ZPros | Jun 5, 2020 8:55 PM | 1 |
| Getting Azalea, clematis and beebalm to bloom by Gypsi | Nov 26, 2019 12:09 PM | 28 |
| I'm pretty sure I did NOT plant this one by Marylyn | Oct 15, 2019 9:47 AM | 15 |
| ID pretty red flower? by Spencerjc63 | Sep 7, 2019 10:31 AM | 3 |
| Very Basic Question But a Little Confused... by SmitheeWarbenJager | Aug 3, 2019 12:04 AM | 19 |
| unknown volunteer plant? by SnowCronan | Aug 2, 2019 7:28 AM | 11 |
| Calling All Botanical Explorers! by JHeirloomSeeds | Oct 12, 2020 6:18 PM | 164 |
| need help with this plant and some question by sangel | Mar 30, 2019 12:20 AM | 6 |
| Milkweed disease/fungus/iono by Bakejusa | Mar 11, 2019 10:08 AM | 2 |
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![Date: 2013-06-17A.Curassavica (left) and A.Curassavica \"Silky Deep Red\"](/pics/2013-06-17/Cruddy/c657eb-175.jpg "Date: 2013-06-17A.Curassavica (left) and A.Curassavica \\"Silky Deep Red\\"")
