Giant Milkweed is a dramatic tropical shrub that commands attention with its pale purple or white crown-like flowers and distinctive milky sap. Native to India, southern China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, this member of the Apocynaceae family has been cultivated across tropical regions worldwide and thrives in hardiness zones 11-12. Growing 8 to 15 feet tall and equally wide, it offers bold structure and reliable blooms for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant statement plant. Its upright form, wooly white shoots, and showy seasonal flowers make it particularly valuable as a hedge or focal point in warm climates.
Full Sun
Moderate
11-12
180in H x 180in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
This shrub's pale purple or white flowers emerge in distinctive crown-like clusters that attract butterflies throughout the growing season. The combination of milky sap, white wooly new growth that matures to smooth leaves, and impressive 8 to 15-foot stature gives it architectural presence. Once established, it tolerates drought exceptionally well while maintaining strong flowering in consistently moist soils, offering flexibility for different garden conditions.
Giant Milkweed is grown primarily as a hedge or structural accent plant in tropical gardens. Its upright growth, showy flowers, and ability to frame spaces or create living boundaries make it valuable for landscaping in warm climates. The plant also serves as a nectar source for butterfly gardens, where its clusters of crown-like blooms attract pollinators throughout the season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Pruning instructions are not specified in the available data. However, the plant's upright growth habit and use as a hedge suggest it can be shaped and maintained through selective cutting to encourage desired form and density.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Calotropis gigantea originates from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, where it has grown for centuries in tropical climates. Its extensive cultivation across tropical regions worldwide reflects its reputation as a reliable, vigorous shrub adapted to warm environments. The plant's distribution from its native range in India, southern China, Malaysia, and Indonesia to gardens throughout the tropics demonstrates how gardeners recognized its ornamental and practical value, selecting it generation after generation for its dramatic structure and persistent blooms.”