Tropical Milkweed Seeds

Red Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) bears clusters of bright red flowers with golden-yellow crowns from midsummer until frost. This vigorous tropical milkweed often blooms in its first year from seed, giving butterflies, bees and hummingbirds a quick source of nectar. Its leaves also serve as a food source for monarch caterpillars. Plants reach about 3 feet tall and thrive in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. Grow it as a tender perennial in Zones 8-11 or as a colorful warm-season annual where winters freeze.

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) produces scarlet-red and orange flower clusters that attract butterflies and other pollinators. The upright plants grow vigorously in warm conditions and often bloom in their first year from seed. It performs best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil and can be grown as a warm-season annual where winters freeze. Its colorful blooms make it a strong choice for containers and pollinator gardens.

Asclepias physocarpa, commonly known as Swan Plant Milkweed, Balloon Plant, or Hairy Balls Milkweed, is a distinctive African species that has become popular in warm-climate gardens and butterfly habitats for over a century due to its unusual, inflated seed pods and its value as a host plant for monarch caterpillars. The plant features upright, branching stems lined with narrow, lance-shaped leaves and topped with clusters of small, white to pale pink flowers that attract a range of pollinators.

Tropical Milkweed Mix blends Silky Deep Red, Silky Gold and the classic red-and-yellow Tropical Milkweed, all forms of Asclepias curassavica. This colorful assortment produces clusters of deep red, scarlet and golden-yellow flowers above slender green foliage for sunny borders, large containers and cutting gardens. Silky Deep Red: Rich red flowers accented with golden-yellow crowns. Silky Gold: Solid golden-yellow flower clusters that brighten the planting. Tropical Milkweed: Classic scarlet to orange-red flowers with contrasting yellow crowns. Plants generally reach 2-4 feet tall and flower from summer into fall, often blooming in their first year from seed. Grow in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. A tender perennial in frost-free climates, this mix is commonly grown as a warm-season annual in colder regions. It is not a winter-hardy Zones 3-9 perennial mix.

Silky Deep Red Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) offers velvety deep red flower clusters accented with bright yellow hoods from late spring into fall. Its broad leaves and rich color make it one of the most striking tropical milkweeds for borders, containers and cutting gardens. Nectar-rich blooms attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees, and the foliage feeds monarch caterpillars. Plants reach 3-4 feet tall and flower about 90-100 days from seed. Grow it as a tender perennial in Zones 8-11 or as a warm-season annual where winters freeze.

Silky Gold Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) produces clusters of pure golden-yellow flowers that glow in sunny borders from summer into fall. A favorite with cut-flower growers, it sends up long stems that hold well in bouquets, while its nectar-rich blooms draw butterflies and bees. The foliage also feeds monarch caterpillars. Plants grow 3-4 feet tall and often bloom in their first year from seed. Grow it as a tender perennial in Zones 8-11 or as a warm-season annual where winters freeze.