South American relative of Butterfly Weed; the flowers are red and orange. In the West Indies, the root and the expressed juice have been used as a substitute for syrup of ipecac (Ipecacuahna). Flea infested rooms swept with brooms made of the stalks are said to become flea-free. Often planted as an annual, it is actually an evergreen shrub in the tropics. We've had these withstand subfreezing weather in the fall and had them covered with Monarch Butterfly caterpillars. Very showy, reseeds.
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