Plant Profile

Asclepias curassavica (Butterfly-Weed, Milkweed, Blood FlowerSilkweed)

A bushy, evergreen sub-shrub with woody base. The leaves are opposite, narrow pointed . The flowers are in a flat umbrella showy orange-red florets with yellow centers. Like most milkweeds, it has milky sap. Scarlet milkweed is easy to grow, thriving in dry, moist, and even wet soils. It needs full sun to partial shade. Regular watering is adequate. If it freeze to the ground it will come back next spring.Use scarlet milkweed in perennial borders and meadow gardens.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Justin Lebar (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Own work) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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French Name: Asclépiade de Curaçao, Fleur de sang

Pronunciation: ass-KLEE-pee-us kur-uh-SAV-ick-uh
Plant type: Shrub
Origin: Tropical America
Heat Zones: 6 to 16

Hardiness Zones: 8 to 13
Uses: Hedge, Border Plant, Mass Planting, Container, Wildlife
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Fast

Tree Shape: Round

Canopy Symmetry: Irregular

Canopy Density: Medium

Canopy Texture: Medium

Height at Maturity: 1 to 1.5 m

Spread at Maturity: 0.5 to 1 meter

Time to Ultimate Height: 1 to 2 Years
Notes
As plants age and become woody near the base ,cut them back to stimulate new growth .This will help them look good for many years.Butterflies can’t resist this evergreen perennial. In tropical conditions the plants ca bloom continuously.

By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Justin Lebar (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Own work) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Arrangement : Alternate

Leaf Venation: Pinnate

Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

Leaf Type: Simple

Leaf Blade: 5 - 10 cm

Leaf Shape: Ovate

Leaf Margins: Entire

Leaf Texture: Rough

Leaf Scent: No Fragance

Color(growing season): Green

Color(changing season): Green
Flower

Flower Showiness: Yes

Flower Size Range: 3 - 7

Flower Type: Cyme

Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: Orange, Red

Seasons: Summer, Fall
Trunk

Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage

Number of Trunks: Multi-Trunked

Trunk esthetic Values: Not Showy
Fruit

Fruit Type: Follicle

Fruit Showiness: Yes

Fruit Size Range: 7 - 10

Fruit Color: Brown

Seasons: Summer, Fall

By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Justin Lebar (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Own work) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: Yes

Heat Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Yes

Salt Tolerance: Poor
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral

Water Requirements: Moderate

Light Requirements: Full, Part
Management

Toxicity: Yes

Invasive Potential: Yes

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: Yes

Pruning Requirements: Needed, to develop a strong structure

Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: No

Surface Rooting: No

Life Span: Less than 25

Pests: Aphids

Plant Propagation: Seed, Division