Use: Mixed beds, natural gardens, meadows. Especially valuable in any butterfly garden or wildlife garden. Hummingbirds will also visit Butterfly Weed. Xeric gardens.
Large Photograph of Butterfly Weed
Common Name: Butterfly Weed Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Related: White Butterfly Weed
Other common names: Pleurisy-root, Canada-root, Indian posy, orange-root, orange swallowwort, tuberroot, whiteroot, windroot, orange milkweed.
Classification: Perennial
Zones: 3 - 9
Native: Yes, Canada to Mexico. Naturalized in Australia.
Invasive: No
Flowers: Small orange or white flowers arrayed in clusters. 3 - 9Yes, Canada to Mexico. Naturalized in Australia.NoSmall orange or white flowers arrayed in clusters. Asclepias tuberosa White Butterfly Weed
Flowering Season: Early to Mid-Summer, around a month or so in duration.
Size: One to three feet.
Growth Habit: Informal.
Combine with: You can’t go wrong with Black-eyed Susans. Any plant with gold, yellow, or orange flowers is a natural, but don’t combine with plants of an overly formal habit.
Ease of Culture: Easy
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Requirements: Rain is enough; thrives in dry conditions. Drought tolerant.
Soil Requirements: Likes sandy and well-drained soil; do not water before the plant breaks dormancy.
Introduction: Butterfly Weed is spectacular in almost every way. Native. Non-invasive. Easy to grow. Butterfly Weed is irresistible to butterflies. Excellent as a dried flower and in arrangements. Both orange and white varieties are available. Butterfly Weed is a food source for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars as well as many other species of butterflies. Considering milkweed is the sole source of food for Monarch Caterpillars, and considering that urban and suburban development is eroding naturally occurring habitats, planting Butterfly Weed is a way to help.
Experts Know: One of the great perennials, Butterfly Weed emerges late in spring; do not disturb soil around the dormant plant. Due to the long taproot, Butterfly Weed is difficult to transplant. Once established, leave in place.Let the pods that develop after flowering mature, as new seeds will be dispersed.
Pests: Aphids may be an issue, but they generally won’t do lasting damage to the plant. Considering Butterfly Weed is a host for numerous butterflies, caterpillars, bees, and other insects, it would be irresponsible to use sprays to control Aphids should they appear. I have grown Butterfly Weed for years, and the best thing to do is not hand-wring over it. This plant is tough.
Technorati Tags: Xeric gardens, Butterfly Weed, Monarch Butterfly, milkweed, perennials
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[…] Butterflies, Hummingbirds and Salvia Indigo Spires Butterflies dig Salvia Indigo Spires, which is enough of a recommendation for some of the gardeners I hang out with. Further, the bees and hummingbirds will surely stop by. The humming birds, especially, will stick around if one had the good sense to plant some Cardinal Flower and Monarda (Bee Balm) in the general vicinity. Toss some butterfly weed into the garden, and Monarch Butterflies will beat a path to your place. See Butterfly Weed is what we need. […]
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[…] Flower By barrie Balloon Flower emerges late in spring - have faith, Balloon Flower will return if you don’t disturb the soil around it. By the way, if you have Butterfly Weedyour garden - and you should - Butterfly Weed also emerges late. Heat and drought-tolerant, Balloon Flower is tough and children especially seem drawn to Balloon Flower. The most beautiful planting I eversaw was a large mass cascading down a hillside - plant this one in mass (the bigger the better) for a truly memorable sight throughout the summer. […]
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[…] most beautiful along roadsides. Coinciding with the ripening of the blackberries in the mountains, Butterfly Weed is a tremendous plant for those gardeners that value native plants and/or who hope to attractButterfly Weed emerges late in spring, so be patient (and don’t disturb the soil). Butterfly Weed is one of our most drought tolerant plants, thus ideal for the xeric garden. Also, onceestablished Butterfly Weed can be tough to move, due to the tuberous nature of the root system (ie: Asclepias tuberosa). Hummingbirds will visit Butterfly Weed, presumable while their waiting for your Cardinal Flower to come into bloom. Additional information about Butterfly Weed. […]
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I saw a red-blooming butterfly weed growing in a field the other day. The blooms are a beautiful bright red. Is this normal?