Silky Milkweed. Asclepias species produce their seeds in pods termed follicles the seeds which are arranged in overlapping rows bear a cluster of white silky filament like hairs known as the coma often referred to by other names such as pappus floss plume or silk the follicles ripen and split open and the seeds each carried by its coma are blown by the wind. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies hummingbirds bees and other beneficial insects.
Silky deep red tropical milkweed is a cultivar breed to have vibrant red and yellow flowers that really pop. It is the host plant for monarch and queen butterfly caterpillars. This milkweed cultivar is bred for its distinct flower color.
Due to all the negative posts i have read about tropical mw i am relegating it to the far side of the garden.
Plants thrive in hot weather. Silky gold tropical milkweed is a monarch butterfly host plant with attractive solid yellow flowers. It is the host plant for monarch and queen butterfly caterpillars. It is frost sensitive but does flower quickly from seed making it a great summer annual.