Gay Butterflies Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies')
ah-SKLEE-pee-us too-ber-OH-sah 'Gay Butterflies'
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Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Apocynaceae Family
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Buy Gay Butterflies Butterfly Weed |
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Experience the stunning 'Gay Butterflies,' Asclepius showcasing vivid orange, red and yellow blooms . The unique seed pods appear shortly after each bloom is spent, adding intrigue to your garden while attracting a flurry of pollinators! |
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 |
24 - 36 inches
tall. 18 - 24 inches
wide.
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Growth Rate |
Moderate |
Sun Exposure |
Full Sun - Full Sun |
Moisture Tolerance |
Dry - |
Zones |
3a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
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Tags |
Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, 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, Low Maintenance, Most Popular, Nativar, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, 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
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Bloom Period |
June to August
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Flower Color |
Yellow, Gold, Orange, Scarlet Mix
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Foliage Color |
Green
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Most Popular Plants |
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Related Articles |
- 7 Reasons Your Roses Have Holes in the Leaves. All About Gardening, 6/15/23
- 7 Different Methods to Get Rid of Aphids on Roses. All About Gardening, 5/25/23
- 11 Reasons Your Roses Aren’t Blooming This Season. All About Gardening, 5/17/23
- 9 Reasons Roses Drop Their Flowers. All About Gardening, 5/17/23
- 9 Reasons The Leaves on Your Roses Are Turning Yellow. All About Gardening, 3/25/23
- Types of roses: 11 beautiful varieties for your garden. Gardening etc., 7/30/21
- 10 things your roses are trying to tell you. San Diego Union Tribune, 4/3/21
- How to Prune Overgrown Roses. Hunker, 2/2/21
- 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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Photos of This with...
Tiny Gold Barberry,
Big Bang Tickseed,
Obsidian Coral Bells,
Foamy Bells 'Sweet Tea',
Autumn Joy Sedum,
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