Pollinator plant

tropical milkweed

Asclepias curassavica

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Common names

70 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
+9 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Rode zijdeplant
French
  • Asclépiade de Curaçao[2][3]
Arabic
  • تفله تركي[3]
  • صقلاب قرمزي[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 尖尾鳳[3]
  • 連生桂子花[3]
  • 馬利筋[3]
Czech
  • klejicha kurasavská[3]
Estonian
  • verev askleepias[3]
Finnish
  • punasilkkiyrtti[3]
German
  • Indianer-Seidenpflanze[2][3]
Hebrew
  • אסקלפיאס[3]
  • אסקלפיאס אדום[3]
Hungarian
  • Skarlát Selyemkóró[3]
Indonesian
  • Kapas Cinde[3]
Japanese
  • キバナトウワタ[3]
  • トウワタ[3]
Kweyol
  • kòtòn kadwiv[3]
Marathi
  • पिवळा चित्रक[3]
Maya Peninsular
  • anal k’aax, anal k’ak, anal xiiw[3]
Mayan languages
Otomi
  • tesuchi potei[3]
Polish
  • Trojeść antylska[3]
Portuguese
+8 more namesShow fewer names
Russian
  • Ваточник кюрасавский[3]
Slovak
  • glejovka curaçajská[3]
Spanish
+13 more namesShow fewer names
Swedish
  • röd sidenört[3]
Thai
  • ไฟเดือนห้า[3]
Totonaco
Turkish
  • Kelebek Çiçeği[3]
Ukrainian
  • Ваточник кюрасавський[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Asclepias curassavica — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Tropical Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Annual Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Blood Flower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Indian Root — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Scarlet Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Sunset Flower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Swallow Wort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias curassavica.
[2] Asclepias curassavica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • tropical milkweed — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Indianer-Seidenpflanze — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • blood plant — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • bloodflower — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • bloodflower milkweed — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Mexican butterfly weed — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • redhead cotton bush — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • scarlet milkweed — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Algodoncillo tropical — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Algodonero — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Bandera española — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Bencenuco — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • flor de gallinazo — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Flor de sangre — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • flor de veneno — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • guajuro — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • hierba de seda — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • niño muerto — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quebra-rojo — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quebrajo — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quiebra ojo — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quiebrajo — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • rejalgar — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Venenillo tropical — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Asclépiade de Curaçao — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Asclépia — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • cega-olho — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • chibança — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • erva-de-rato — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • erva-leiteira — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • falsa-erva-de-rato — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • margarida — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • mata-rato — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • oficial-de-sala — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • paina-de-sapo — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • pitchula-de-leite — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
[3] Asclepias curassavica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • tropical milkweed — results[25].names[2]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Indianer-Seidenpflanze — results[25].names[29]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • blood plant — results[25].names[11]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • bloodflower — results[25].names[12]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • bloodflower milkweed — results[25].names[3]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Mexican butterfly weed — results[25].names[10]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • redhead cotton bush — results[25].names[18]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • scarlet milkweed — results[25].names[9]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Algodoncillo tropical — results[25].names[7]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Algodonero — results[25].names[27]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Bandera española — results[25].names[26]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Bencenuco — results[25].names[33]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • flor de gallinazo — results[25].names[34]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Flor de sangre — results[25].names[25]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • flor de veneno — results[25].names[35]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • guajuro — results[25].names[40]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • hierba de seda — results[25].names[36]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • niño muerto — results[25].names[37]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quebra-rojo — results[25].names[42]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quebrajo — results[25].names[41]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quiebra ojo — results[25].names[38]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • quiebrajo — results[25].names[43]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • rejalgar — results[25].names[39]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Venenillo tropical — results[25].names[8]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Asclépiade de Curaçao — results[25].names[53]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Asclépia — results[25].names[55]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • cega-olho — results[25].names[44]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • chibança — results[25].names[46]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • erva-de-rato — results[25].names[49]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • erva-leiteira — results[25].names[52]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • falsa-erva-de-rato — results[25].names[50]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • margarida — results[25].names[45]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • mata-rato — results[25].names[51]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • oficial-de-sala — results[25].names[15]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • paina-de-sapo — results[25].names[47]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • pitchula-de-leite — results[25].names[48]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • 尖尾鳳 — results[25].names[1]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • analk'aak — results[25].names[4]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • pinatawan — results[25].names[5]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • tesuchi potei — results[25].names[6]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • 馬利筋 — results[25].names[13]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • 連生桂子花 — results[25].names[14]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • verev askleepias — results[25].names[16]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • トウワタ — results[25].names[17]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • 马利筋 — results[25].names[19]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • klejicha kurasavská — results[25].names[20]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • röd sidenört — results[25].names[21]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Kapas Cinde — results[25].names[22]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • キバナトウワタ — results[25].names[23]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • kòtòn kadwiv — results[25].names[24]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Ваточник кюрасавский — results[25].names[28]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • صقلاب قرمزي — results[25].names[30]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • تفله تركي — results[25].names[31]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • ไฟเดือนห้า — results[25].names[32]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Trojeść antylska — results[25].names[54]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • אסקלפיאס — results[25].names[56]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Skarlát Selyemkóró — results[25].names[57]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • punasilkkiyrtti — results[25].names[58]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • पिवळा चित्रक — results[25].names[59]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • anal k’aax, anal k’ak, anal xiiw — results[25].names[60]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • אסקלפיאס אדום — results[25].names[61]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • glejovka curaçajská — results[25].names[62]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Kelebek Çiçeği — results[25].names[63]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
  • Ваточник кюрасавський — results[25].names[64]; taxon id 75602; Asclepias curassavica.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Apocynaceae

Genus-level classification for Asclepias; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Asclepias curassavica.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, hummingbirds, moths, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Mexico to Trop. America.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Asclepias — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 37484; ID 33PC; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Asclepias curassavica — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Asclepias curassavica — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1289212; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 691363, 691364, 691365, 691366, 691367, 691368, 691369, 691370, 691371, 691372, 691373, 691374, 691375, 691376, 691378, 691379, 691380, 691381, 691382, 691383, 691384, 691385, 691386, 691387, 691388, 691389, 691390, 691391, 691392, 691393, 691394, 691395, 691396, 691397, 691398, 691399, 691400, 691401, 691402, 691403, 691404

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.