Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed is the showiest of all native milkweeds — a clump-forming perennial with brilliant orange to gold flat-topped flower clusters in summer that are magnets for monarch butterflies, which lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed. The flowers attract an extraordinary diversity of native bees, swallowtail butterflies, fritillaries, and other pollinators. After flowering, attractive long, narrow seed pods split open to release silky-tailed seeds. Butterfly weed thrives in dry, rocky soils and requires perfect drainage — it resents wet feet.

Key Features:

• Clump-forming perennial
• Most showy native milkweed — brilliant orange-gold summer flowers
• Monarch butterfly larval host plant — most important milkweed in gardens
• Extraordinary pollinator magnet — attracts dozens of butterfly and bee species
• Long attractive seed pods split to release silky seeds
• Thrives in dry rocky soils; drought tolerant; deer resistant

Growing Details:
Height: 18–24 in | Spread: 18–24 in
Exposure: Full sun | Water: Low
Bloom time: Summer | Bloom color: Orange to gold
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3–9