This post is all about ways to differentiate non-native Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curassavica with 3 of Florida's native milkweeds - Aquatic or White Swamp Milkweed Asclepias perennis, Pink Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata, and Butterflyweed or Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa.

In the video, I go over the differences in flowers, mature heights, overall size of different plant parts, leaf characteristics, and differences in the petioles.

I chose 3 FL native milkweeds that are most commonly available at nurseries. There are several other FL native milkweeds that are not mentioned.

Tropical Milkweed is native to Mexico and is typically the most widely available milkweed at Home Depot, Lowes, and other nurseries.

There is currently large debate over whether or not gardeners should be planting Tropical Milkweed in their FL butterfly gardens. I do not discuss this debate in this post. I do recommend that Tropical Milkweed is not used in any FL garden.

Please note that the prevalence of a parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) is not limited to Tropical Milkweed. Once a Monarch Butterfly is infected with O.E., it will spread the parasite's spores to any plant it lands on. When spread to milkweeds, young caterpillars will become infected as well as other adult Monarchs that land on the plant.

Do you have any tips or tricks in differentiating Tropical Milkweed from FL native milkweeds?? Comment below to keep the convo going.