Asclepias curassavica

Blood Flower

Blood flower is a South American evergreen perennial in the milkweed family with a much longer flowering period than the Midwest native perennial milkweeds. Glossy, strap-like leaves are medium green, sometimes with white midribs. Showy flowers with five sepals and five lobes appear in rounded axillary clusters (cymes) in late spring to early summer. Flowers are red-orange with yellow hoods, or all deep yellow. Flowering continues throughout the summer to early autumn.

	Long-blooming with great color
	Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

Height 24-36 Inches

Spread 18-24 Inches

Homeowner Growning & Maintenance Tips Blood Flower is great in containers and can be moved indoors by a sunny window. Flowers are followed by long, narrow seed pods (3-4" long) which split open when ripe releasing silky tailed seeds for dispersal by wind. Stems and leaves exude a milky sap when cut or bruised. Plants can be poisonous to livestock.

Interesting Notes lood Flower is winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it may be used as an annual. Blood Flower is easily grown from seed each year. Start seed indoors in pots 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date. Plant seedlings outside after last frost date. Grows best in light, rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates some light shade and moderate soil dryness. 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.

USDA Hardiness Zone 9 - 11

Characteristics & Attributes

Deer Tolerance • Medium	Exposure • Full Sun	Habit • Annual	Water Needs • Medium