Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed requires such little care that you might forget it is part of your landscape, that is, until the striking flowers start to bloom during the summer. Brilliant red, yellow, and orange flowers grow in clusters on tall stems. The long, narrow foliage features dark green through the center and is edged in cream that transitions to a pink blush. This plant is also known as Asclepias curassavica, Bloodflower, or Mexican Butterfly Weed.

This plant will look lovely wherever it is planted, but it makes a wonderful addition to borders or mass plantings. The flowers can be cut for use in arrangements, and they dry well for long-term use. Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed is native to the warmer regions of North America. This plant is deer-resistant, and the fragrant flowers attract various pollinators, but this plant is a favorite food source for monarch butterflies. This Milkweed variety is grown as an annual in most areas.

Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed Care

Lots of bright light helps this plant thrive. Place the Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed in an area that receives consistent sunlight throughout the day. This low-maintenance plant is not very picky about the soil, as long as it is well-draining. Milkweed is drought-tolerant, but water when the top several inches of the soil dry out. Top dress the soil with organic compost or apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring to support new growth. 

This plant is so well-loved by monarch butterflies that it has been known to disrupt migration patterns. The growth will die back when the weather turns chilly, but when grown in areas with warm winters, cut back all growth in the fall before the plant goes to seed.

Monarch's Banquet Tropical Milkweed Spacing

This plant will grow 20 to 26 inches tall and 12 to 15 inches across. Plants can be spaced right up against one another, so space 12 to 15 inches from the center of one to the center of the neighboring plant.

SKU:

ASCMB