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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

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Posted 19 January 2019