Butterfly Weed
SKU: AM016103
Shipping:
Shipping begins the week of April 14th, 2025
Overview
Butterfly Weed is the iconic, bright orange beauty that's a staple in every butterfly garden. This showy native wildflower is easy to grow, cold hardy, and does well in poor, dry soils. Long-lasting clusters of small, flat-topped flowers are crowned with a yellow, sun-kissed "corona" and bloom from June through August. Butterfly Weed is an important nectar source for Monarch butterflies and its leaves provide essential food for developing Monarch caterpillars - but expect to see a variety of pollinators making use of this plant. Please note the Bag of 3 are bareroots. (Asclepias tuberosa)
key features
Botanical Name
Asclepias tuberosa
Advantages
Native, Bee Friendly, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Birds, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Naturalizes
Growing Zones
Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Soil Moisture
Dry, Average
Mature Height
24-36" tall
Mature Spread
12-24" wide
Bloom Time
Early to late summer
SKU
AM016103
Description
24-36" tall, 12-24" wide. The most famous member of our native milkweed family, and a well-known magnet for butterflies, Butterfly Weed prefers fast-draining, gritty soil and exposure to full sun. Blooming from early through late summer, this fragrant beauty has a deep-reaching tap root that should not be disturbed. Unlike other milkweeds, Butterfly Weed does not possess the milky sap that can irritate skin and eyes. This is a no-fuss plant that requires very little aftercare and is deer-resistant. To achieve a bushy look, pinch back young stems. Stalks and pods provide interest in the winter garden.
Butterfly weed is a milkweed from the Asclepias family, named after the famous Greek God of Medicine. The plants have long been used in herbal medicine, where they're also known as Pleurisy Root.
Butterfly Weed is common from Canada southwards.
Native Range for Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) - AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV.
