Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)

Bring your garden to life while supporting one of nature’s most iconic pollinators! Tropical Milkweed is a vibrant flowering perennial that produces brilliant clusters of orange, red, and yellow blooms from spring through fall. It is both a nectar source for butterflies and bees and a host plant where monarch butterflies lay their eggs. The leaves become food for hungry monarch caterpillars, making this an essential addition to any pollinator garden.

Perfect for Louisiana landscapes, Tropical Milkweed thrives in our warm climate and blooms continuously with very little care.

Plant Details

• 🦋 Essential host plant for monarch butterflies
• 🌼 Long-lasting orange, red, and yellow blooms
• ☀️ Thrives in full sun
• 💧 Water regularly until established; drought tolerant afterward
• 📏 Mature Height: 2–4 feet
• 🐝 Attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators

Care Instructions
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and water during extended dry periods.

Garden Tip

In South Louisiana, it’s recommended to cut Tropical Milkweed back to 6–8 inches in late August or early September. This encourages fresh growth for the fall monarch migration and helps reduce the spread of the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) parasite, which can build up on older leaves. Fresh new foliage provides a healthier stopover for monarchs as they continue their remarkable journey to overwintering grounds in central Mexico