Asclepias CURASSAVICA 'SILKY GOLD'

Asclepias CURASSAVICA 'SILKY GOLD' - Yellow bloodflower, Tropical milkweed 'Silky Gold', Curassavian milkweed, Swallow-wort, Kakatundi.

Asclepias is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs in the Apocynaceae family, comprising about 200 species distributed mainly in North and South America.

These plants are known for their milky sap, complex inflorescences of small bright flowers, and an important role in the ecosystem - especially as food plants for monarch butterfly caterpillars.

The fruit is a spindle-shaped follicle about 6-7 cm (2.4-2.8 in) long. Numerous seeds ripen inside, equipped with long silky hairs that facilitate wind dispersal. After the fruits open, they are easily carried over long distances.

Yellow bloodflower is an evergreen perennial herbaceous subshrub with erect shoots reaching a height of up to 1 m (3.3 ft). The stems are pale gray, leaves are opposite, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 8-12 cm (3.1-4.7 in) long, with an acute tip, dark green above and grayish-green beneath.

Flowers are gathered in umbellate inflorescences up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter, counting 10-20 flowers colored in yellow tones with a yellow corona. Flowering is profuse and long-lasting - from spring to late autumn, and in tropical conditions it can occur almost year-round.

Before sowing, seeds are soaked in warm water for 24 hours. Sowing is done in a container with a loose mixture, lightly dusting with soil on top. The container is kept at a temperature of 18-25 °C (64-77 °F). Sowings are covered with film or glass, regularly ventilated and moistened. When grown indoors, bright diffused lighting is provided.

Seedlings appear within 1-3 months. The maximum germination period can be greater than 90 days. After the appearance of true leaves, pricking out is carried out. Propagation by softwood cuttings is also possible - they root easily in a moist substrate at a temperature of 22-24 °C (72-75 °F).

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Asclepias prefers a sunny or semi-shaded location. It tolerates direct sun well, but during periods of heat it is important to monitor soil moisture. When overdried, it can drop buds. Indoors, it needs a bright windowsill; in summer it can be grown outdoors.

The temperature regime during the growing season is 20-26 °C (68-79 °F). In winter, a short dormant period is possible at a temperature of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F). Watering is generous in spring and summer, with drying of the top layer, and moderate in winter. Stagnation of moisture is undesirable.

Loose soil is used, with the addition of sand, humus, or perlite. Repotting is carried out annually in spring. Fertilizers are applied twice a month during the period of active growth and flowering. Universal or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers in moderate doses are used.

Formative pruning promotes branching and prolongs flowering. Plants grown from seeds begin to flower as early as 4-5 months after sowing. It is suitable for growing in containers and in open ground as an annual plant.