
Bastard ipecacuana
Asclepias curassavica
Asclepias curassavica, commonly called tropical milkweed or scarlet milkweed, is a vibrant perennial sub-shrub prized for its brilliant orange-and-red flowers and its critical role as a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. It grows vigorously in full sun with well-drained soil, requires minimal care once established, and blooms prolifically across warm months. In non-tropical climates, cut it back hard in late autumn or treat it as an annual to prevent disrupting monarch butterfly migr
Care Level
Low
Sun
Partial Shade
Water
Moderate
Growth Rate
Moderate
Mature Height
24″ – 60″
Soil
loam
Life Cycle
Perennial
Spacing
18″
Watering Schedule
Every 5-7 Days • Water Until Soil Is Evenly Moist; Allow Top 1-2 Inches To Dry Out Between Waterings
Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Temperature
0° – 90°F
Mature Spread
up to 36″
Root Depth
Medium
Foliage
Medium
Propagation: Seed, Cutting
Native to
Attracts
Sources
Data: trefle, usda
Image: trefle.io — Taken Dec 16, 2017 by vini (cc-by-sa)
No nurseries currently have this species in stock.