Advanced
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Asclepias curassavica (Bloodflower)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
3 hours care
per year
per year
1m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Asclepias curassavica
Other names
Bloodflower, Bastard ipecacuanha, Blood flower, Matac, Red head, Wild ipecacuanha , Bastard pecacuanha, Indian root, Matal, Swallow wort, Scarlet milkweed, Silkweed
Genus
Asclepias Asclepias
Species
A. curassavica - A. curassavica is a tender, evergreen subshrub, often grown as an annual, with upright branches bearing narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped, pointed, dark green leaves and, from summer into autumn, terminal clusters of orange-red to red flowers with yellow-orange hoods followed by pale green fruit.
Asclepias curassavica is: Evergreen
Habit
Upright
Flower
Orange-red, Yellow-orange in Summer; Yellow-orange, Orange-red in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Whitefly Whitefly
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
If container grown and kept outside in summer, cut back and bring inside in winter.
Propagation methods
Basal cuttings, Division, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Asclepias curassavica (Bloodflower) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.6m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Greenhouse, Indoor, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. Water freely and feed monthly in growth, keep almost dry in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, well-drained, loam in a sunny, sheltered site.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Asclepias curassavica
Other names
Bloodflower, Bastard ipecacuanha, Blood flower, Matac, Red head, Wild ipecacuanha , Bastard pecacuanha, Indian root, Matal, Swallow wort, Scarlet milkweed, Silkweed
Genus
Asclepias Asclepias
Species
A. curassavica - A. curassavica is a tender, evergreen subshrub, often grown as an annual, with upright branches bearing narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped, pointed, dark green leaves and, from summer into autumn, terminal clusters of orange-red to red flowers with yellow-orange hoods followed by pale green fruit.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Orange-red, Yellow-orange in Summer; Yellow-orange, Orange-red in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
If container grown and kept outside in summer, cut back and bring inside in winter.
Propagation methods
Basal cuttings, Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Asclepias curassavica (Bloodflower) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.6m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Greenhouse, Indoor, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. Water freely and feed monthly in growth, keep almost dry in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, well-drained, loam in a sunny, sheltered site.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login