Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly milkweed, with its super showy, midsummer, orange blooms, is a great addition to pollinator gardens. Flowers can vary from reddish-orange to yellow. Leaves are narrow. Its deep taproot helps to make this plant drought tolerant. Grows well in many types of soils as long as they drain well. Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, native bees, and bumble bees. Does not have the thick milky sap common in milkweeds, but still contains the toxic cardenolides that monarch butterfly larva have evolved to depend on. Host plant for monarch butterfly larva, queen butterfly larva, and more.

Plant Details

Native Range: Native to CO, AZ, NM, UT, and the midwest, eastern, and north-eastern U.S.
Height: 2′
Spacing: 1-3′
Water Needs: Moderate-Low
Soil: Sandy, Loamy
Sunlight: Full sun (tolerates part shade)
Bloom Time: June-August
USDA Zone: 3-9
Life Cycle: Perennial

Shipping

Pick up, shipping, and delivery options available. We can ship anywhere in the contiguous U.S. except Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington, or Wyoming due to state regulations regarding agricultural imports.

Image Credit:
Asclepias tuberosa 211824004.jpg | Jake McCumber | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0