Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
The bright orange flowers on this 2' to 3' native perennial make it one of our showiest wildflowers. Butterfly milkweed begins flowering in late spring and is found in old fields, grasslands, roadsides, and open woods. It grows well in often poor sandy, rocky, or clay soils. The very deep taproot makes this plant drought tolerant and also difficult to transplant. The long lasting bright orange flowers make this plant a favorite of gardeners. Butterfly Milkweed, as the name implies, attracts numerous butterfly and other pollinator species and is the host plant for the Monarch larva and other rare butterfly species. Pleurisy Root is another common name and refers to a folk medicine use of the plant to treat pulmonary ailments. Prices listed are based on pure live seed weight, not bulk weight.
Species Details
Common Name (Botanical Name) | Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) |
Alternatative Common Names | Butterflyweed |
Botanical Synonyms |
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Bloom Season | Spring-Summer |
Group | Wildflowers/Forbs |
Bloom Color | Orange |
Duration | Perennial |
Soil moisture | Dry (Xeric);Medium (Mesic);Wet (Hydric) |
Soil texture | Coarse (Sand);Medium (Silt/Loam);Fine (Clay) |
Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
Status | Native |
Wetland status | |
pH | Acidic;Neutral |
pH Values | 4.8/6.8 |
Average height | 2-3ft |
USDA Zones | 3a;3b;4a;4b;5a;5b;6a;6b;7a;7b;8a;8b;9a;9b; |
RNS Region | 1;2;3;5;7 |
Planting rate/Acre | Not Recommended |
Seeds Per Lb. | 70000 |
Seeds Per Oz | 4375 |
Seeds Per Packet | 225 |
Product Benefits | Aesthetic Value;Deer Resistant;Low Growing;Nectar Source;Host Plant;Monarch Preferred; |