Calotropis procera

One of the largest of all Milkweeds, this RARE Asclepias relative is native to S. Asia and N. Africa and later introduced to S. America and the Caribbean. A gorgeous plant with sturdy base-branching stems and huge substantial silvery-green leaves to 12” long and 6” across, it bears 4” clusters of fascinating and colorful 1” bright violet-purple and white, flaring cup-shaped blooms all Summer long. A host and nectar plant for Monarch butterflies it grows to 3’-5’ tall and wide in our Bay Area sub-tropical climate (to 10’ in tropical climates!). DROUGHT and SALT TOLERANT and not fussy about soil, we grew ours in a large 20+ gal container and in a very well drained garden with infertile soil. Does not produce seed here, but if you live in a hot, frost-free desert area, do remove any seed pods that may form to prevent any self-sowing. Deciduous here by the Bay (Zone 9b), foliage returns in the Spring. Can be grown in a container and over-wintered indoors in colder climates.