Asclepias curassavica
Bloodflower milkweed
(c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · licence
Family: Apocynaceae · Type: Subshrub
Asclepias curassavica (Bloodflower milkweed) is a California subshrub in the Apocynaceae family.
Bloodflower milkweed is a naturalized annual found in moist sites below 2,000 meters elevation. Flowering from summer to fall, this plant produces striking flowers with bright crimson petals and distinctive yellow or orange hoods that sit prominently above the corolla base. Growing with erect stems that are slightly hairy, it reaches moderate heights with an upright habit. Its opposite leaves are lanceolate, with short petioles and blade-like structures that complement the plant's vertical form. The plant produces distinctive seed pods that remain upright, containing seeds 5 to 7 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with distinctive bright crimson and yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist sites
Elevation: < 2000 m
How to tell it apart
vs Gomphocarpus: Asclepias has hoods that touch or nearly touch at their edges; Gomphocarpus has gaps between hood edges.; vs Erigeron: Asclepias has rounded umbel clusters with large individual flowers; Erigeron has daisy-like flowers with many thin ray petals.; vs Lantana: Asclepias has reflexed petals with a raised hood crown; Lantana has flat-faced tubular flowers in dense rounded heads.; vs Apocynum: Asclepias has large showy flowers in dome-shaped clusters; Apocynum has tiny bell-shaped flowers in branched sprays.; vs Baccharis: Asclepias has milky sap and large distinctive flowers; Baccharis has clear sap and tiny fuzzy composite flowers.
Frequently asked questions
What plant family does Asclepias curassavica belong to?
Asclepias curassavica is in the Apocynaceae family, genus Asclepias.
What habitat does Asclepias curassavica grow in?
Asclepias curassavica grows in Moist sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.