Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Also known as Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root, Orange Milkweed
Climate Match for your location
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A vibrant native perennial with bright orange-red flowers that attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Why grow it
Butterfly milkweed is a native milkweed species that provides reliable nectar and larval host resources for monarch butterflies and other pollinators across most of North America. Unlike some Asclepias species, it tolerates poor, sandy, or gravelly soils and performs well in open, sunny sites with minimal water once established, making it useful where other perennials require amendment or regular irrigation.
Watch out for
The plant is slow to establish from seed and may take two to three years to reach mature size; division or nursery-grown plants accelerate landscape impact. Butterfly milkweed can be short-lived in heavy clay soils or areas with poor drainage, so site selection matters more than most perennials.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Apocynaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A vibrant native perennial with bright orange-red flowers that attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Butterfly Milkweed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Butterfly milkweed is a native milkweed species that provides reliable nectar and larval host resources for monarch butterflies and other pollinators across most of North America. Unlike some Asclepias species, it tolerates poor, sandy, or gravelly soils and performs well in open, sunny sites with minimal water once established, making it useful where other perennials require amendment or regular irrigation.
Watch out for
The plant is slow to establish from seed and may take two to three years to reach mature size; division or nursery-grown plants accelerate landscape impact. Butterfly milkweed can be short-lived in heavy clay soils or areas with poor drainage, so site selection matters more than most perennials.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Apocynaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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