Butterfly Bush, Tropical Milkweed Seeds

Tropical Milkweed Seeds, Perennial (Asclepias curassavica) or Mexican Butterfly Weed

Over 25 seeds per package

Tropical Milkweed seeds produce tender evergreen perennials. Butterflies love this plant, and it provides a great food source for them. Commonly called Mexican Butterfly Weed, Blood Flower or Tropical Milkweed, these showy plants have blooms in colors of red, orange and yellow.

Butterfly nectar source:
In addition to Monarchs, Tropical Milkweed provides nectar for a wide variety of butterflies, pollinators, and hummingbirds.

Caterpillar food source:
Like many milkweeds, Tropical Milkweed is a food plant for Monarch caterpillars. Queen caterpillars, which are found in the southern states, particularly Florida, southern costal areas, Texas, and the southwest, will use Tropical Milkweed as a food source. Additionally Soldier caterpillars, which are locally common to southern Florida and Texas, can be found on Tropical Milkweed.

 Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 8 - 11

Height: 24 - 32 inches

Bloom Season: Summer and fall

Bloom Color: Red, Orange and Yellow

Environment: Full sun

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.5

Deer Resistant: Yes

Temperature: 60F

Average Germ Time: 14 - 28 days

Depth: Do not cover seed, press lightly on to soil

Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination

Plant Spacing: 24 inches

Sow Butterfly Weed seeds early in the spring. Transplant seedlings outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Tropical Milkweed plants require a sunny spot in moist, fertile soil. They are not as drought tolerant as other species of milkweeds. Keep the plants uniformly moist, but not saturated. Pinch the tops of the plants to induce a bushy habit and provide more flowering branches. Tropical Milkweed seeds can be grown as an annual in cooler climates.

A problem that can impact the appearance of Tropical Milkweed is a result of the severe defoliation caused by Monarch and/or Queen caterpillars. This problem of course has the trade off of providing great caterpillar watching while helping to produce more butterflies. Once the plants are defoliated or the caterpillars have moved on, it is a simple matter of cutting back the Tropical Milkweed, which will resprout from the plant’s base. Regrowth is fairly fast and the plant will rebloom.

A copy of this instruction sheet will come with seed package.

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