Asclepias curassavica - Milkweed

Asclepias curassavica, or Tropical Milkweed, is a beautiful semi-bushy plant, highly prized for its long-lasting exotic flowering in vibrant colours, followed by attractive feathery fruits. Although perennial, it has a short lifespan and is sensitive to severe frost, so it is often used as an annual in large flower beds or grown in pots for overwintering. Its bright green foliage perfectly complements the flowers in shades of red, yellow, and orange. It is drought-tolerant and well adapted to a Mediterranean climate.

Asclepias curassavica belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family. It is a botanical species native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America and the Caribbean, and naturalised in several regions such as the southeastern United States, Africa and Australia, as well as some countries in Southern Europe such as Spain. It is a perennial plant with a lignified stump that contains a corrosive and toxic white latex in its tissues. It produces erect, pale grey, sparsely branched and lignified stems, which form a tuft 80 cm (32 in) to 1 m (3 ft) tall and 40-50 cm (16-20 in) wide at the base. Its leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems. They are simple, narrowly lanceolate, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long and 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2 in) wide. Their colour is a very vibrant green, and they persist in winter if there is no frost. Flowering can last for 5 months, especially if faded flowers are regularly removed. In its native areas, it will mostly bloom in spring, but in cooler climates the inflorescences appear from June to October. The flowers are organised in terminal umbels, measuring 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) in diameter. Each flower consists of 5 red petals, reflexed and topped with a yellow and orange crown. This flowering is visited by numerous pollinating insects, including the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) where this species is present. After pollination, cylindrical fruits, 5-6 cm (2 in) long, are formed. When mature, they open to release seeds equipped with a tuft of white bristles. This fruiting is decorative.

In winter, Tropical Milkweed is grown as an annual or in pots. It should be placed in full sun once the frost has passed and brought indoors for winter in a cool and well-lit place. With its magnificent flowering, it makes a beautiful indoor plant. In the garden, it can be planted in a perennial or shrub border, or in a large flower bed. To accompany it, consider, for example, grasses (Miscanthus, Panicums, Pennisetum), Perovskias, or Echinaceas for a harmonious colour scheme.