Scarlet Milkweed

Posted by Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 23 July 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Scarlet milkweed (asclepias curassavica) is a plant with brilliant reddish orange flowers and is excellent in butterfly gardens. Milkweed is the only host to the Monarch butterfly. Milkweed contains a white toxic sap. It is used to expel worms and induce vomiting. It affects the heart similarly to a digitalis plant. Birds will not eat butterflies that feed from this flower.

This species is thought to be originally from the Caribbean, but is now found worldwide in tropical areas. It should not be considered a native North American plant, though it can even successfully reseed in temperate areas. Photo taken July 20, 2008.

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