Tropical Milkweed
Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica L.
Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)
(formerly in Asclepiadaceae, the Milkweed Family)
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Asclepias curassavica L., Tropical Milkweed: (Bayer Code: ASCCU; US Code ASCU)
- Tender perennial in the milkweed family that can grow up to 5 feet tall or more; native to South America
- Leaves lanceolate, opposite
- Flowers red-orange in small clusters at tips of stems and in axils of leaves
- Tends to flower longer during the growing season than native milkweeds
- Commonly grown as an annual flower in midwest
- Has become invasive in Hawaii, southern Florida and southern California
The “weediness" of milkweeds has been revisited due to them being the main food for monarch butterfly larvae; therefore, milkweeds no longer are being generally considered as weeds to eradicate, and actually have legal protection in some areas.
(Posted January 19, 2019)