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)

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