Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica): Monarch Magnet with Red-Orange Blooms

Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), also called Mexican butterfly weed or scarlet milkweed, is a fast-growing, tender perennial that produces vivid red-orange flowers with yellow hoods in clusters atop upright stems. It is a premier host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and a nectar source for adults.

Characteristics

Plants grow 2–4 feet tall with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. The milky sap is toxic and can irritate skin. In frost-free zones (9–11), it is evergreen and blooms year-round; elsewhere, grow as an annual. It self-seeds readily.

Culture

Full sun, well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Deadhead to prolong bloom and reduce self-seeding if desired. Cut back in fall in perennial zones to reduce OE parasite buildup on monarchs.

Taxonomy

• Family: Apocynaceae
• Genus: Asclepias
• Species: curassavica
• Synonyms: Asclepias cubensis, Asclepias margaritacea