Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) in the Milkweeds Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
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

Common names

Tropical Milkweed
Scarlet Milkweed
Bloodflower
Milkweed

Photo Gallery

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2021-01-18
Monarch caterpillar 5th instar, getting ready for the J-stage.

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-06
#Pollination

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Opp, AL Z8b
Date: 2023-01-11
This is a cutting in a bottle of water. It quit blooming while m

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-06-12
A#Monarch Buttterfly caterpillar feasting on the leaves of the Mi

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-19
The all yellow Asclepias curassavica makes a beautiful attraction

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2014-08-15

Uploaded by poisondartfrog

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-11-11
#Pollination White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) visitin

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Medina, TN
Date: September 2015
Monarch caterpillar eating the flowers and leaves.

Uploaded by clintbrown

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-08-15
A newly emerged male #Monarch Butterfly drying his wings on a lea

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-10
The orange-black Large #MilkweedBug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) lives

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2019-08-21
HX 400v

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: RHS Hyde Hall, Essex, UK.
Date: 2022-08-18

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Arenas Valley, NM My Greenhouse
Date: 2018-05-04

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-17
The seedpods of Tropical Milkweed contain stacks of flat seeds th

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-18
Flat seeds of the Asclepias curassavica with thier silky hairs to

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-15
A colorful male #Monarch Butterfly enjoying morning nectar from a

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-04-17

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2-26-17
Metamorphosis time

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-11
A colorful #Monarch Butterfly enjoying morning nectar from a Milk

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: My Caffeinated Garden, Grapevine, TX
Date: 2018-10-04
They are here! One month ahead of time.

Uploaded by Altheabyanothername

Location: Colima, Colima Mexico (Zone 11)
Date: 2014-06-28
Asclepias curassavica with Queen Monarch butterfly (host plant fo

Uploaded by vitrsna

Location: Arenas Valley, New Mexico my yard
Date: 2016-07-10

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: Summer 2010
This milkweed is easy to grow and a favorite of Monarchs and Quee

Uploaded by frostweed

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-08-31
A green common garden #katydid is camouflaged nicely on a leaf of

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: Colima, Colima Mexico (Zone 11)
Date: 2011-04-28
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Wildflower native to

Uploaded by vitrsna

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-09-19
#Pollination Monarch Butterfly at bloom

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2015-05-28
Zone 9b

Uploaded by HamiltonSquare

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-02-02
A monarch released back to the garden.

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-06-30
A very young #Monarch catepillar exploring the world on a Milkwee

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2013-12-15
With Monarch Butterfly :)

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-01-07
Seeds from my milkweed.

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-01-07
Seeds of my milkweed.

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2017-06-25
#Pollination Normal state of my Tropical Milkweed...aphids and

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-01-19
Monarch Caterpillar: I'm on top of the….seedpod!"

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: My garden, Grapevine, TX
Date: Fall

Uploaded by Altheabyanothername

Location: 2015
Date: 2015-11-11
Arenas Valley New Mexico my greenhouse

Uploaded by plantmanager

Location: Southern Pines, NC (Downtown park)
Date: December 2, 2022
Mexican butterfly weed #137 nn; LHB p. 815, 170-1-4, "Ancient Gre

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-14
A #Ladybug suns on the leaf of a milkweed plant

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Uploaded by StephGTx

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-04-18

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-01-08
Milkweed seedpod ready for harvest!

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Ft Worth Botanic, Tx
Date: 2017-11-18

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: July 17, 2011
Stem & Monarch Butterfly laying eggs on a leaf.

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: July 29, 2011
Caterpillar of Monarch Butterfly feeding on a leaf.

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by admin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-10-28

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 1-30-17
Monarch Cocoon

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Burleson, Tx.
Date: 2011-10-02

Uploaded by StephGTx

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Colima, Colima Mexico (Zone 11)
Date: 2010-11-01
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Wildflower native to

Uploaded by vitrsna

Location: Opp, AL Z8b
Date: 2021-11-04
This is 2 cuttings in a jar of water. They take root easily and

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-04-27

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-01-10

Uploaded by sunkissed

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 14, 2011

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2015-08-15

Uploaded by dave

Uploaded by Marylyn

Location: Utrecht Botanical Garden
Date: 2022-10-09

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: 2022-01-15
Monarch Caterpillar nibbling on milkweed seedpod.

Uploaded by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

Location: Oviedo, Florida, United States
Date: 2019-12-30

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Uploaded by tx_flower_child

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-10-29
Blooming nonstop since early Summer

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2015-12-09
Seedpods with Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus)

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: My Garden - Lake Jackson, TX
Date: 2011-12-21
Seeds leaving the pod on a breezy day

Uploaded by krancmm

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-11-16

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-11-14

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-05-21

Uploaded by chelle

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-08-15
Monarch eggs--one or two per leaf

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-04
Seedpods covered in Aphids!

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by admin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-12-01
Covered in Milkweed bugs

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-03-02

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-06-03

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by terrafirma

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Houston, Texas
Date: 2010-06-27

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: In our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2013-08-30
Tropical milkweed seeds popping out - thanks pollinators!

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by lisam0313

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Southern Pines, NC ( Downtown park)
Date: December 2, 2022
Mexican butterfly weed #137 nn; LHB page 815, 170-1-1, "Ancient G

Uploaded by WebTucker

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: my garden
Date: 2015-11-06
grown from seed; maiden bloom

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-11-01
Tropical Milkweed with Hyacinth Bean seedpods

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Kyle, Texas
Date: 2017-07-12
Host plant for the Monarch butterfly

Uploaded by christinereid54

Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2016-07-05

Uploaded by DebbieC

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2013-07-16
In Brenda's Butterfly House

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-06-20
Buds just opening

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Opp, AL Z8b
Date: 2022-09-16
Color is washed out but the structure shows so well.

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-11-02

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Orange, CA
Date: 2017-06-29
Tropical Milkweed

Uploaded by Englishgardener

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: March 29, 2012
Mexican Milkweed

Uploaded by LindaTX8

Location: My front yard N. Watauga TX
Date: 2011-10-11
Speaks for itself.

Uploaded by Debnes

Location: My front yard N. Watauga TX
Date: 2011-10-11
Host for Monarchs & Queen Butterflies

Uploaded by Debnes

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-11-01

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: South Florida
Date: Spring 2012
I have a couple of these, exclusively as a host plant. They get m

Uploaded by MamaIve12

Location: Maryland
Date: 2014-08-25
Tiny, 2nd instar Monarch caterpillars on tropical milkweed leaves

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden, Pretoria, South Africa
credit: JMK

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Pinellas Park,FL
Date: 2012-09-03

Uploaded by Budgielover

Location: Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center - Apollo Beach, Florida

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-17

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Longwood, Florida, United States
Date: 2020-01-03

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2013-12-15

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Botanical Garden of Delft
Date: 2011-03-02

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Jardi Botanic de Soller - Mallorca
Date: 2010-11-06

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-09-03

Uploaded by chelle

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2014-09-11
Seed pod opening

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: Friend's Garden, Michigan
Date: 2012-08-06

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by lisam0313

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-08-30

Uploaded by chelle

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2-26-17
First moments as a butterfly 😊

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-06-29
Buds nearly a week later

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Maryland
Date: August 19, 2014
Monarch eggs on tropical milkweed leaves

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-06-22
Started from seed January 2013

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: At our garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 2013-09-05
Tropical milkweed seed pods starting to pop

Uploaded by tarev

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-09-02
This plant is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by terrafirma

$Date: 2013-06-17 A.Curassavica (left) and A.Curassavica \"Silky Deep Red\"$

Uploaded by Cruddy

Uploaded by piksihk

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Burleson, Tx. 76028
Date: September 30 2011
young Monarch cat

Uploaded by StephGTx

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 1, 2011
Aphids feeding on a stem & leaves

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-05-23
Five month old seedlings

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)
Date: 2013-09-01

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Location: DFW, Texas (zone 8)
Date: 2016-04-14
Tropical milkweed with flower buds

Uploaded by merkuree

Location: In my garden - San Joaquin County, CA
Date: 15-Jan-2016 Winter
Tropical milkweed during our El Nino winter 2016

Uploaded by tarev

Uploaded by dyzzypyxxy

Uploaded by tarev

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 25, 2013 2:31 PM concerning plant:

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 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 22, 2014 7:18 PM concerning plant:

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 rfreskos2attnet (Granbury, TX ) on Oct 6, 2021 12:06 PM concerning plant:

Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) Protozoan Parasite

Milkweed when planted in warm environments like southern Texas and the U.S. Gulf Coast doesn't die back in the winter like native milkweed does. When presented with a place to lay their eggs year-round, many monarchs don't bother making the trip to Mexico at all. Year-round tropical milkweed presents an even more direct threat to the butterflies. Milkweed hosts a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). Caterpillars ingest the parasite as they feed on milkweed. When they hatch from their chrysalises, the butterflies are covered in spores. It's a debilitating parasite. Infected monarchs are much weaker than their healthy counterparts and don't live nearly as long. In fact, if an OE-infected monarch tries to migrate, it will probably die long before it arrives in central Mexico. The migration is vital to keeping OE under control in the North American monarch population. Migrating "weeds out some of the sick monarchs every year," preventing them from passing the parasite along to their offspring. What's more, it gives the monarchs a chance to leave behind contaminated milkweed plants, which then die off during the winter. When the butterflies return in the spring "they start over fresh" with new, clean milkweed. But if the monarchs aren't migrating, and the tropical milkweed isn't dying off, OE never goes away.

There is some good news. Nearly all tropical milkweed in the southern United States is in gardens. A way to reduce the contamination: CUT THE MILKWEED DOWN TO THE GROUND IN NOVEMBER BEFORE THANKSGIVING. CLEAN YOUR TOOLS BEFORE CUTTING AND AFTER CUTTING WITH A RATIO OF 1 PART BLEACH TO NINE PARTS WATER TO DISINFECT YOUR TOOLS TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. By cutting the milkweed down before Thanksgiving, you will prevent the contamination.

Reply to this comment
Posted by frostweed (Arlington, Texas - Zone 8a) on Oct 26, 2011 2:00 PM concerning plant:

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 concerning plant:

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.

Milky sap from broken leaves or stems can cause severe eye irritation.

Reply to this comment
Posted by krancmm (Texas Gulf Coast - Zone 9b) on May 21, 2012 12:58 PM concerning plant:

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 concerning plant:

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 and hummingbirds.

Reply to this comment
Posted by succulentlife (San Clemente, CA - Zone 10a) on Aug 10, 2019 9:13 AM concerning plant:

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."
I assume this also applies to Southern California.

Reply to this comment
Posted by sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on Dec 12, 2018 12:11 AM concerning plant:

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

Plant Events from our members
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
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
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
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
WebTucker	On December 3, 2022	Bloomed
SuperHappyCamper	On February 26, 2023	Obtained plant Received from Kat.
paleohunter	On May 18, 2023	Transplanted
dnrevel	On June 8, 2023	Transplanted Planted in north flower bed by the Pennsylvania Sedge and wildflowers.
dnrevel	On June 3, 2023	Obtained plant Received from Kirk Jones, former PG director who used to run a cut flower business. He recommends this plant for cut flower bouquets.

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

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
Monarch Chrysalis by GigiAdeniumPlumeria	Jan 15, 2022 12:15 PM	0

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Milkweeds Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)

Milkweeds

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)