Red Tropical Milkweed

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Brighten up your landscape with the Red Tropical Milkweed. Bold red and orange flowers grow in clusters and bloom during the summer. The light green foliage is narrow and comes to a gentle point. This upright thriller grows to be 3 feet tall and wide and is also known as Asclepias curassavica or Mexican Butterfly Weed. The fragrant flowers attract pollinators, most notably butterflies.

As a large, mounding plant, the Red Tropical Milkweed makes a stunning addition to a border or mass planting. The bright flowers can be cut to use in arrangements or to dry for long-term use. Milkweed is native to the warmer regions of North America, and it is very low maintenance once it has settled in. This deer-resistant plant is grown as an annual in most areas.

Red Tropical Milkweed Care

Plant in full sun, but Milkweed can handle partial sunlight. Rich soil will promote more growth, but this plant can also live in low-quality soil. Milkweed is not a heavy feeder but amend poor quality soil with organic compost during planting. Soil should be well-draining because this plant does not like to be soggy. Monitor the soil and water if the top several inches are dry. 

This variety is very popular with butterflies and can disrupt migratory patterns, so it is best to cut back the growth after the flowers fade. The plant can be brought indoors and grown as a houseplant for the winter. Red Tropical Milkweed grown as a houseplant needs bright indirect light and has moderate water needs.

Red Tropical Milkweed Spacing

This annual will grow 24 to 36 inches tall and be just as wide. Space the root ball at least 3 feet from a building or tree. Create a lush landscape by spacing multiple plants 24 to 36 inches apart, measuring from the center of the root ball.

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ASCRE