Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
[ah-SKLEE-pee-us too-ber-OH-sah]
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Deciduous Perennial Mounded
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Embrace the bold beauty of Asclepias tuberosa, with its vibrant orange flowers that light up the summer landscape. A favorite among pollinators, this resilient perennial not only dazzles the eye but also supports vital ecosystems in your garden! |
About Butterfly Weed
Commonly called Butterfly Weed, this perennial puts out showstopping orange clusters of flowers in midsummer.
As you might guess from the name, butterflies (including Swallowtails) love the sweet nectar this plant produces, so swarms of butterfly wings will appear wherever you have this beauty planted.
Long slender seed pods burst in the fall sending a seed attached to a fluffy floating through your garden to reseed like a weed.
This Asclepias variety is shorter than its cousins and doesn’t have their white, milky sap.
It also prefers slightly drier conditions but thrives in full sun, just like the rest of its family.
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Pros
Shorter, mounding habit
Bright orange blooms
Pollinator favorite
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Cons
Cannot tolerate shade
Aphids and milkweed beetles can be unsightly but tolerable
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Plant Data |
Mature Size |
12 - 24 inches
tall. 18 - 24 inches
wide.
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Growth Rate |
Slow |
Sun Exposure |
Partial Sun - Full Sun |
Moisture Tolerance |
Dry - Medium |
Zones |
3a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
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Tags |
Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Rocky Soil, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Sun, Perennial, Pond, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Shallow Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden Large Perennials, Summer Blooming Perennials, Yellow or Orange Flowering Perennials
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Bloom Period |
Spring - Summer
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Flower Color |
Orange
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Most Popular Plants |
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Related Articles |
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- 9 of the Worst Mistakes You Should Stop Making With Your Roses. Better Homes & Gardens, 6/25/20
- Which Native Milkweeds Should You Plant for Monarch Butterflies?. Chicago Botanic Garden, 6/1/16
- Tips for Pruning Roses. Better Homes & Gardens
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More Info from Experts |
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Commonly Planted with...
Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta, Monarda didyma, Aster novae-angliae, Salvia nemorosa, Achillea millefolium, Agastache spp., Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), and Coreopsis spp.
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