Bloodflower
Asclepias curassavica
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Genus:
- Asclepias
- Species:
- Asclepias curassavica
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may, sep, oct, nov
- Bloom Colors:
- orange, red, yellow
Native Range
United States: California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Palau, Tennessee, Texas, Virgin Islands
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cleobaea Tigerwing (Lycorea cleobaea), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus), Soldier (Danaus eresimus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) Butterflies:Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Southern Broken-Dash (Polites otho), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions