Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

 

Milkweed is the essential host plant for monarch caterpillars and a nectar source for many pollinators. All of our milkweeds are hardy perennials that return year after year once established.

 

plant profile

Butterfly weed is a drought-tolerant perennial with brilliant orange blooms. Unlike other milkweeds, it prefers dry, sandy, or rocky soils and is ideal for sunny meadows or tough garden spots.

 

Growing conditions

• Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
• Light: full sun only
• Soil: dry to medium, well-drained; thrives in sandy or rocky soil
• Water: water weekly the first season, afterward only during prolonged drought
• Bloom time: early to mid-summer, starting the second year
• Lifecycle: perennial

 

planting instructions

• Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are mild
• Dig a hole just wider than the root ball and plant level with soil surface
• Space 18–24 inches apart
• Water well at planting and during the first season

 

seasonal growth pattern

• Year 1: Root growth only; no blooms.
• Year 2: Blooms begin and plants start to spread.
• Year 3 and beyond: Full size and heavy bloom.
• Fall & Winter: Seed pods form; leave stems through winter, cutting back in early spring.

 

care

Best planted in the ground, though it can survive in very large containers with excellent drainage. Mix sand or perlite into potting soil to mimic its native conditions. Place in a sunny spot and avoid overwintering.

 

notes

• Does not bloom the first year while roots develop
• Slow to emerge in spring,  patience is key
• Brilliant orange flowers make it one of the most showy garden milkweeds