Asclepias curassavica.
Blood Flower, also known as Tropical Milkweed and Mexican Butterfly Weed, is a perennial flower (though it can be grown as an annual in cooler climates) native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Grows to around 3 feet in height and produces stunning clusters of yellow, orange, and red flowers in early summer and throughout fall.
Attracts numerous butterflies—particularly monarchs, whose larvae feed exclusively on milkweed—as well as hummingbirds. Deer tend to avoid.
Typically blooms in the first year.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you intend to grow Blood Flower in a frost-free region where the cold will not kill them off, please be sure to cut back the plants to ground level at the end of fall so they will not seed and spread. This will help incentivize monarchs to continue their migration instead of remaining behind to feed on the plants!
Blood Flower Milkweed
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 12 Light Requirement: Full sun Soil Type: Loamy, sandy, well-drained Sow Depth: 1/8 inch Plant Spacing: 18 to 24 inches in rows Germination Temp: 65°F to 70°F Germination Time: 10 to 15 days Bloom Time: Early summer to late fall Growing Tips
Direct sow in early spring by planting the seeds just below the soil's surface. Keep soil moist until germination, which should occur within 14 to 21 days. Additional seeds can be sown every 2 weeks for a longer bloom time.
If starting indoors, sow seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. Plant seeds just below the soil's surface in large, individual peat pots, 3 seeds per pot. Keep soil lightly moist until germination, which should occur within 14 to 21 days. Transplant after danger of frost has passed.