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Mexican Butterfly Weed

Asclepias curassavica

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29.5651, -98.403

Field Notes

Description:

This plant has reddish-orange flowers with yellow hoods bloom in clusters from late spring to early autumn. This is a larval and nectar plant for monarch butterflies. Best growth occurs in full sun with light, evenly moist soils. This is Deer resistant.

Habitat:

Native to South America, but has naturalized worldwide in many tropical and subtropical areas

Notes:

Consider wearing gloves when working with these plants because the milky sap is poisonous if ingested and can be toxic to human skin.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)
Gordon Dietzman
I suggest that this may be Mexican Butterfly Weed, but there may be other very closely allied species, so my suggestion may not be correct. At least this may be a place to start searching for an ID. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_curassavica.
Photographed
PublishedMay 17, 2013

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