Asclepias curassavica
“Bloodflower”/ “Mexican Milkweed”

Another common name of this plant could easily be “Butterfly Magnet” - grow it & they will come! A MUST for any habitat garden, it’s colorful, beautiful, & easy, a source of nectar for many butterflies & other beneficial insects, & also a critical larval food source for our beloved Monarchs. Growing from 3-4’ tall & wide, A. curassavica is imbued with noxious poisons in all parts of the plant. Monarch larvae ingest these poisons & store them within their bodies, so that as butterflies are unpalatable to birds & other predators. Evergreen in mild climates, & becoming shrub-like if not cut down by cold, this Asclepias easily reseeds & blooms throughout the year with red, orange, & yellow blooms in clusters. These are especially cheerful in the winter, & often this plant will be flowering even when nothing else is! Aphids are easily attracted to this plant, but don’t seem to harm its health, & can be blasted off with water. Poor soil is OK.

NOTE: If you are planning to introduce Monarch caterpillars to this plant, we recommend letting it establish for one season before doing so.
The plant - and the caterpillars will thank you!

Claire Woods
Propagator