Crown Flower, Giant Calotrope, Giant Milkweed, Swallow-wort
Calotropis gigantea
| Family: | Apocynaceae (a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Calotropis (kal-LOW-troh-pis) (Info) |
| Species: | gigantea (jy-GAN-tee-uh) (Info) |
Category:
Shrubs
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Evergreen
Succulent
Foliage Color:
Medium Green
Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Medium Purple
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Blooms all year
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Ferment seeds before storing
Wear gloves to protect hands when handling seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Encinitas, California
San Diego, California(2 reports)
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Big Pine Key, Florida
Bokeelia, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(3 reports)
Hobe Sound, Florida
Hollywood, Florida(2 reports)
Jacksonville, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Key Largo, Florida
Largo, Florida
Leesburg, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Marathon, Florida
Miami, Florida(4 reports)
Mulberry, Florida
Navarre, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida(2 reports)
Port Charlotte, Florida
Riverview, Florida
Saint Cloud, Florida
Saint James City, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Satellite Beach, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Wellborn, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Kailua, Hawaii
Kaneohe Station, Hawaii
Kapaa, Hawaii
Kihei, Hawaii
Maunawili, Hawaii
Wailua Homesteads, Hawaii
Brandon, South Dakota
Baytown, Texas
Humble, Texas
Lake Jackson, Texas
Los Fresnos, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Rio Hondo, Texas
Spring Branch, Texas
show allGardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Positive | On May 10, 2019, tcs1366 from Leesburg, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I've had 2 of these for a few years now. They have never set seed. The first one I bought died back one winter when we dipped into the 20s. Took a few months but rebounded. I had 1 die one summer, not sure why. (I'm a snowbird and was not there) |
| Neutral | On Oct 4, 2015, BMoisset from Willow Grove, PA wrote: Please, please, please! Care about the environment and ecosystems, not just about the plants and the monarch butterflies they feed. Some introduced plants become invasive or their parasites do. Native plants, on the other hand, serve multiple ecological functions. It is always preferable to choose natives. |
| Positive | On Oct 17, 2013, LJGardens2 from Lake Jackson, TX wrote: I have about six of these planted in a public memorial butterfly garden here in Lake Jackson, Tx. We will be testing them through their first winter this year. All of these were planted last spring and reached 5-6 feet tall, and really looked exquisite. We will be mulching them heavily for the winter months, and if they come through the well, may use more of them in another butterfly garden. |
| Positive | On Jun 10, 2011, margaran from (Maggie) Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: This plant grows well for me in zone 8-9a. I have it in a pot through which it has rooted in the ground. It does die back every winter but returns in the spring. It's great for feeding hand raised monarchs as the leaves don't wilt as quickly as the thinner leaved asclepias. |
| Positive | On Jul 29, 2010, vossner from Richmond, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: New plant for me, may not survive my zone9a winter. |
| Positive | On May 8, 2010, PingaMucho from Miami, FL wrote: I have about 7 of these. In both the light purple and I just found one today at Fairchild Tropical Gardens that I purchased in all White. MONARCHS LOVE THIS PLANT!!! The benefit is that the larger leaves can support more caterpillars and grows back quickly. I find myself transplanting caterpillars from my tropical milkweed to the giant milkweed. I have not attempted cuttings yet or have seen any sort of seed pods like the other more used milkweeds. It does respond well to cutting back as it produces even more shoots off the original stem. |
| Neutral | On Sep 17, 2009, Dinu from Mysore, There is a superstition here in our part of the world that this plant should not be planted inside the premise/garden willfully. |
| Positive | On Oct 20, 2008, Dirty_Thumbs from Clearwater, FL wrote: This plant was purchased at a local 'Master Gardeners Show' in May of 2007. There were 3 plants in one 1 gallon pot. |
| Positive | On Oct 24, 2006, DrNatalie from Fort Lauderdale, FL wrote: This plant is very common in Thailand. The crown-like part is extensively used in Thai flower arrangement. It will remain "fresh" for at least 1 week or so. |
| Positive | On Jun 28, 2004, punaheledp from Kailua, HI (Zone 11) wrote: I got it because monarch butterflies like to lay eggs on it, hundreds of their caterpillars ate it to it's nubs last spring, but it comes right back, quickly and stronger than ever. Mine was close to 15' and growing daily when I cut it back. Easy to propogate... stick any branch it water til it roots and stick into ground. I planted a hedge of them along the back of my property, they took immediately and are very attractive, always blooming. Leis are made from flowers here, but personally I never thought it a good lei flower. Zone 11. (UH Botony says native to tropical Asia) |
| Positive | On May 30, 2004, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: Even more giant than the giant Milkweed (Calotropis procera), this weed is also from India and is used for just about every disease that exists. It has nice, ornamental flowers, too. |
