Perennial - Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

Botanical Name

:

Asclepias tuberosa

Plant Type

:

Herbaceous perennial

Seasons

:

Plant in spring or fall; blooms in summer

Sun Level

:

Full sun; at least 6 hours daily

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

Consistently above 50°F (10°C)

Soil Type

:

Dry to medium, well-drained soil. Tolerates poor, sandy, or rocky soils

Hardiness Zones

:

3–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Germination can be slow and erratic, taking anywhere from 2–4 weeks or even longer. Scarification or stratification can improve germination rates

P.H. Level

:

Neutral to slightly acidic (6.0–7.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Water regularly during the first year. Drought-tolerant once established

Fertilization

:

Generally not necessary

Habit

:

Upright, bushy, clump-forming

Propagation

:

Seed, root cuttings, or division (though division can be difficult)

Final Plant Height

:

2–3 ft

Spread

:

1–2 ft

Flowers

:

Clusters of bright orange (sometimes yellow) flowers

Attracts

:

Butterflies (especially monarchs!), bees, hummingbirds

Uses

:

Butterfly gardens, wildflower gardens, meadows, naturalized areas

Companions

:

Grasses, coneflowers (Echinacea), and other drought-tolerant perennials

Pruning

:

Deadhead spent flowers to prevent self-seeding (unless you want it to spread). Cut back stems in late fall or early spring

Toxicity

:

Considered mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities (contains cardiac glycosides)

Pests

:

Aphids, milkweed bugs, spider mites

Diseases

:

Crown rot, leaf spot

Fun Fact

:

The name tuberosa refers to the tuberous roots

Confused With

:

Other Asclepias species, especially those with orange flowers

Additional Info

:

A crucial host plant for monarch butterflies. The orange flowers provide nectar for many pollinators

Botanical Name

:

Asclepias tuberosa

Plant Type

:

Herbaceous perennial

Seasons

:

Plant in spring or fall; blooms in summer

Sun Level

:

Full sun; at least 6 hours daily

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

Consistently above 50°F (10°C)

Soil Type

:

Dry to medium, well-drained soil. Tolerates poor, sandy, or rocky soils

Hardiness Zones

:

3–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Germination can be slow and erratic, taking anywhere from 2–4 weeks or even longer. Scarification or stratification can improve germination rates

P.H. Level

:

Neutral to slightly acidic (6.0–7.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Water regularly during the first year. Drought-tolerant once established

Fertilization

:

Generally not necessary

Habit

:

Upright, bushy, clump-forming

Propagation

:

Seed, root cuttings, or division (though division can be difficult)

Final Plant Height

:

2–3 ft

Spread

:

1–2 ft

Flowers

:

Clusters of bright orange (sometimes yellow) flowers

Attracts

:

Butterflies (especially monarchs!), bees, hummingbirds

Uses

:

Butterfly gardens, wildflower gardens, meadows, naturalized areas

Companions

:

Grasses, coneflowers (Echinacea), and other drought-tolerant perennials

Pruning

:

Deadhead spent flowers to prevent self-seeding (unless you want it to spread). Cut back stems in late fall or early spring

Toxicity

:

Considered mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities (contains cardiac glycosides)

Pests

:

Aphids, milkweed bugs, spider mites

Diseases

:

Crown rot, leaf spot

Fun Fact

:

The name tuberosa refers to the tuberous roots

Confused With

:

Other Asclepias species, especially those with orange flowers

Additional Info

:

A crucial host plant for monarch butterflies. The orange flowers provide nectar for many pollinators

Written by Nondiah Khalayi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nondiah-khalayi/