(Asclepias curassavica ‘Blood Flower’)
Blood Flower Milkweed is a tender evergreen perennial flower that is native to South America but can be commonly found growing in moist areas and disturbed sites throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features upright stems, 6” lance-shaped leaves, and showy clusters of reddish/orange petals with yellow hoods. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, makes fabric, has medicinal properties, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
Genus: Asclepias
Species: curassavica
Variety: Bloodflower Milkweed
Also Known As: Mexican Butterfly Weed, Tropical Milkweed, Bloodflower, Silkweed, Indian Root, Cotton Bush, Sunset Flower, Wild Ipecacuanha.
Native to: Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Introduced into: Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Ascension, Assam, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Burkina, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, Chile North, China South-Central, China Southeast, Congo, Cook Is., Cyprus, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Fiji, Florida, Gabon, Ghana, Gilbert Is., Greece, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Hawaii, India, Iraq, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Kriti, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madeira, Malawi, Malaya, Marianas, Marshall Is., Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New South Wales, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Paraguay, Philippines, Queensland, Rwanda, Réunion, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., South Australia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual: 4-7
Perinnial: 8-12
Maturity (Blooms): Summer-Fall
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers. Monarch butterflies lay eggs on this plant and the resulting larvae (caterpillars) use the plant leaves as a food source.
Containers: Yes
Light: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium
Height: 24-36”
Spacing: 15-18”
USDA Zone: 4-12
Produces: upright stems, 6” lance-shaped leaves, and showy clusters of reddish/orange petals with yellow hoods.
Uses: Attractive foliage and flowers for beds, borders, cottage gardens, meadows and butterfly gardens. Also a good cut flower. Dried seed pods are attractive in arrangements.
Toxicity: Consider wearing gloves when working with these plants because the milky sap is poisonous if ingested and can be toxic to human skin. Can be poisonous to livestock.
Suggested Varieties
(Tagetes Erecta ‘Kilimanjaro White’)
Kilimanjaro White Marigold is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 18” and features divided green foliage and 2-4” white/light yellow flower blooms. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, is resistant to deer, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, is used to make dye and insecticides, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Tagetes erecta ‘Naughty Marietta’)
Naughty Marietta Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 6-12” and features divided green foliage and aromatic flower heads with yellow petals with mahogany streaks at their base. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Tagetes erecta ‘Sparky Mix’)
Sparky Marigold is a compact annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing on banks and slopes throughout the central and eastern United States. This plant grows up to 9-12 inches tall and has green foliage that is divided. Its orange and yellow flowers have wavy petals and emit a pleasant aroma. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, repels bean beetles, cabbage loopers, and nematodes, is both edible and medicinal, and can be used as a trap crop for aphids.
(Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’)
Grandpa Ott' Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South America but can be found growing in thickets, fallow fields, and along roadsides throughout the state of Arizona. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach a length of 6-10' and features heart-shaped dark green leaves and 5" deep purple flowers with ruby red centers. This plant is adaptable and can grow in a container or hanging basket. It also has the added benefit of attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In addition to being edible and medicinal, it has the unique ability to self-sow!
(Ipomea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’)
Heavenly Blue Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach a length of 6-9' and features heart-shaped dark green leaves and 4-5" bright sky-blue blooms with lovely white centers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, has medicinal properties, and self-sows!
(Ipomoea nil ‘Picotee Blue’)
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Picotee Blue Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South America but can be found growing throughout the southern United States. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach a length of 6-9' and features heart-shaped dark green leaves and dramatic 6" blue blooms with bright white edging a purple star inside. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and hummingbirds, has medicinal properties, and self-sows!
(Ipomoea purpurea ‘Tall Mixed’)
Tall Mixed Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South America but can be found growing in thickets, fallow fields, and along roadsides throughout the state of Arizona. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach a length of 6-9' and features heart-shaped dark green leaves and 3-4" flower blooms in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and hummingbirds, has medicinal properties, and self-sows!
(Ipomoea alba ‘White’)
White Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South America but can be found growing throughout several states. When fully grown, the vines of this plant can extend beyond 10 feet in length. It showcases dark green leaves that are heart-shaped and white fragrant flowers measuring 5 to 6 inches. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, lacewings, and pollinating moths, has medicinal properties, and self-sows!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Beauty’)
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Autumn Beauty Sunflower is a native annual flower that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 5-6' and features hairy stems & heart-shaped green leaves, and 4-6” yellow, orange, red, bronze, or mahogany flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is used as a cut flower!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Dwarf Sungold’)
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Dwarf Sungold Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. When fully grown, this plant can stand 2-3 feet tall. Its stems and heart-shaped leaves are covered in hair, while its golden yellow flowers, measuring 5 inches, have an aromatic scent and resemble pompons. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, makes dye, and is used as a cut flower!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Mammoth’)
Mammoth Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 8-12' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 12-24” yellow flower heads. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye!
(Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Mexican’)
Mexican Sunflower is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing throughout Louisiana and Florida. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 4-6' and features 3-12” lobed dark green leaves and 3” orange-red flowers with orange-yellow disks. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, and is used as a cut flower!
(Helianthus annuus ‘Velvet Queen’)
Velvet Queen Sunflower is a native annual plant that grows in dry areas of meadows, plains, and prairies throughout every region of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3-4' and features hairy stems, hairy heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 4-6” flowers in shades of bronze, red, and mahogany with dark centers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, is resistant to rabbits, is a great trap crop for aphids, is both edible and medicinal, tolerates drought, and makes dye!