Alphabetical Plant Listing

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Butterfly Flower, Butterfly Root, Butterfly Weed, Chieger Flower, Flux Root, Indian Paintbrush, Indian Potato, Orange Root, Pleurisy Root, Swallow Root, Tuber Root, White Root, Wind Root, Windward Root


Easy care, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is a bushy perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers which bloom continuously throughout summer. Sitting atop upright flowering stems, clad with stiff, lance-shaped leaves, the colorful umbels, 2-5 inches across (5-12 cm), are followed by attractive seed pods in fall. The abundant foliage provides a dark-green backdrop that nicely compliments the cheerful flat umbel flowers. Native to most of the United States and southern Canada, this perennial wildflower has no milky sap, unlike many other milkweeds.

Milkweed plants are critical to monarch butterflies' survival, whose population in North America has plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years. By planting milkweed in your own garden, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects!

  • Grows in sturdy, upright clumps up to 18-24 in. tall and wide (45-60 cm). May freely self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open.
  • Thrives in full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Performs well in poor, dry soils.
  • Low maintenance, this perennial plant is generally pest and disease free.
  • A vital ingredient of beds and borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, meadows, or prairies. Asclepias tuberosa is also valued for the excellent quality of its cut flowers, whether in bouquets or dried floral arrangements.
  • Butterfly Weed flowers are a great nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
  • Propagate by division or root basal cuttings in spring. Does not transplant well and is probably best left undisturbed once established.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Milkweed: How To Grow and Care with Success

By providing the right growing conditions, you can enjoy healthy and vibrant milkweed in your garden while supporting pollinator populations.Read More

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 3 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Stock Photos, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 3 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias

Guides with Asclepias

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