- Botanical name: Asclepias curassavica
- Common name: Blood flower
- Family: Asclepiadaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Key features:
- Flowers
Known as tropical milkweed or blood flower, Asclepias curassavica is an evergreen subshrub with mid-green leaves, bearing pretty red and yellow umbel-like flowers from summer to autumn. The blooms are often followed by fruit.
Native to the American tropics, it’s typically grown in Britain as an annual, suitable for bedding and container displays.
Grow Asclepias curassavica in well-drained soil in full sun. Move containers indoors in autumn to keep them over winter.
How to grow Asclepias curassavica
-
Plant size
100cm height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Asclepias curassavica and wildlife
Asclepias curassavica has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Asclepias curassavica poisonous?
Asclepias curassavica has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
