Curaçao milkweed

Family: Kutrovye. In Latin America the Curaçao milkweed (swallowwort) grows as a perennial with a short growing season. In countries with a cooler climate it is often cultivated as an annual.

The inflorescences of the milkweed are very decorative and suitable for cutting, but it should be remembered that the caustic poisonous sap of this plant can cause severe skin irritation. Specimens offered for sale in June are seedlings grown from seed. They can be easily obtained independently. Sowing indoors at a temperature of about 20°C is carried out in February–March. In order to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy, they should be kept in a bright but cool room. Their tops should be pinched; then the plants will branch intensively, forming many lateral shoots. After the last spring frosts have passed, the seedlings are planted in their permanent place in a border or in large containers placed in a warm, wind-sheltered location. The plant requires abundant watering. With good care its shoots reach a height of 1 m. Flowering begins 5 months after sowing the seeds and continues uninterruptedly until deep autumn. Flowers colored in red and orange tones attract many butterflies. In some people, the plant's pollen causes skin irritation.