Milkweed, Tropical (Asclepias Curassavica) - 50 Seeds

•Non-GMO
•American grown seeds
•Bee Friendly
•Butterfly Friendly
•Hummingbird Friendly

Description:
Commonly known as Tropical Milkweed, Mexican Butterfly Weed, Scarlet Milkweed and Blood Flower, this plant is a member of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family. The genus Asclepias (the milkweeds) are named after Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, for the many medicinal uses of the milkweed plants. As their common name suggests, they have milky sap, of many species containing toxins and can cause injury. Tropical Milkweed is an evergreen perennial shrub. It grows to 1 meter tall and has pale gray stems. The leaves are oblong and end in a sharp point at the tip, and are arranged oppositely. The inflorescence has 10-12 flowers with red corollas and yellow or orange petals, and flowers all year round. Fruits are 5-10 cm long, and contain small, flat, oval seeds with silky hairs for wind dispersal, similar to other milkweeds.

Tropical Milkweed is a source of food for many species of butterflies, and like other milkweeds, particularly for both larvae and adult Monarch and Queen butterflies (subfamily Danainae), and is a favorite flower for planting in butterfly gardens. Tropical Milkweed is native to the Neotropics, and has been introduced to other tropical regions worldwide. It can be found throughout the forests of Panama.

Planting Instructions:
Sow Butterfly Weed seeds early in the spring. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Mexican Butterfly Weed plants require a sunny spot in moist, fertile soil. They are not as drought tolerant as other species of milkweeds. Keep the Bloodflower plants uniformly moist, but not saturated. Pinch the tops of the plants to induce a bushy habit and provide more flowering branches. Blood Flower herb seeds can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. Sow flowers seeds indoors and transplant outdoors. Mexican Butterfly Weed seed is also considered to be a wildflower seed and once established, it will bloom until fall frosts.

Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 8-11
Height: 24-32 inches
Bloom Season: Summer and fall
Light Required: Full sun
Watering: Keep moist
Soil: Prefers moist, but well-drained soils.
Seed Depth: Surface sow. Do not cover.
Seeds per Plant: 2-4
Plant Spacing: 24 inches