Plant · GBIF taxon 3170241
Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias curassavicaAlso known as Bloodflower, Mexican Butterfly Weed, Scarlet Milkweed, Cotton Bush
Tropical milkweed produces striking bi-colored clusters of crimson petals and yellow crowns that bloom continuously throughout warmer months. The plant secretes a milky latex rich in cardenolides, toxic cardiac glycosides that monarch caterpillars incorporate into their own tissues to deter predators. In non-native warm climates, year-round persistence can harbor parasites that disrupt butterfly migration, making seasonal pruning essential.
FloweringToxicButterfly Host
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Soil Nutrients
- Water
Predators
- Monarch Caterpillar
- Queen Caterpillar
- Oleander Aphid
ThreatsHerbicides, habitat conversion, fungal leaf spots
HabitatsDisturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, gardens, tropical thickets
Life spanPerennial (3–5 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGentianales
- FamilyApocynaceae
- GenusAsclepias
- SpeciesAsclepias curassavica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Milky sap irritates skin and eyes, and all parts are toxic if ingested: wear gloves when handling.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains cardiac glycosides that disrupt heart function if ingested and milky latex sap that causes severe eye and skin irritation.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by pointed lanceolate leaves, milky white sap from broken stems, and terminal clusters of red and yellow flowers.
- What to do
- Wear protective gloves when handling, avoid eye contact, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after trimming.
Responsible observation
- Monarch Management: Cut back foliage in late autumn in non-native areas to prevent parasite buildup on wintering butterflies.
- Handling Care: Wear gloves when trimming to keep the sticky latex sap off skin and completely out of eyes.
- Garden Placement: Position alongside native flora to provide balanced forage options for local pollinators.
Herbivore Host Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Herbivore (c) Franz Anthony, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Franz Anthony · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Randy Nonenmacher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
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