Butterfly weed is the iconic, bright orange beauty thats a staple in every butterfly garden. This tough denizen of north american fields, wetlands, and prairies is the sole host plant for the struggling monarch. Sep 21, 2017 common milkweed has a milky sap like most types of milkweeds, an aspect of the plant that gives milkweeds their name. Butterfly weed plants asclepias tuberosa are troublefree north american natives that produce umbels of bright orange, yellow or red blooms all summer long. Flowers are long lasting and bloom early summer and into the fall depending on the weather. Sep 21, 2017 butterfly weed is a perennial wildflower native to north america. Swamp milkweed eventually matures to forms clumps up to 36 across. As the main food source for the beloved monarch butterfly caterpillar, milkweed has seen a huge resurgence in popularity as of late. Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed, is most often a distinctive bright orange but there is some variation in flower color, from deep redorange to yellow. A punch of intense tangerine orange invites droves of butterflies. Grows best in welldrained, sandy soil host plant for. Work soil around the roots, firm well and water thoroughly.
I have scattered tropical milkweed plants singly around the garden and also put them in groups three in a triangle is nice, maybe 18 apart. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed, butterfly weed from. If you have lone plants growing around your yard, check them regularly and transfer monarch caterpillars to other milkweed, if necessary. This distinctive color and the absence of the typical milky white sap that other milkweed species have make identification easy. Thats certainly the case with milkweed, a lovely wildflower that isnt really a weed at all. Includes tips on planting, growing and types of butterfly weed in new england.
Butterfly milkweed, orange milkweed, pleurisy root plant type. Butterfly milkweed seeds asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed asclepias tuberosa. Longlasting clusters of small, flattopped flowers are. From summer to early fall, the plant bears showy, orange blooms.
Plant it to support monarch butterfly caterpillars in u. This easy to grow perennialis native to meadow areas in most of the united states from california to wisconsin all the way to maine and florida. Butterfly garden in a pot environmental education alliance of. Butterfly weed plants are easy to grow by seed, but may not produce blooms for two or three years. May 14, 2019 butterfly milkweed is a host plant for the monarch butterfly. Green seed pods open to glistening silky parachutes that float with the breeze to a new. Department of agriculture planting zones 3 through 9. How to grow butterfly weed in your garden the spruce. Reaching up to three feet tall, this is one of the last plants to come up in the. Butterfly weed tropical milkweed asclepias curassavica here are more tropical milkweed seeds that produce tender evergreen perennials. Butterfly weed aka milkweed is a troublefree wonder in the sunny garden. Sow butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa seeds indoors 812 weeks before last frost date at 70. Common milkweed grows as high as 5 feet, while butterfly weed is shorter, with most between 1 and 3 feet tall. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar.
For current distribution, please consult the plant profile page for this species on the plants web site. You can plant them closer and then thin the plants as they grow in, or, plant swamp milkweed and its cultivars between 30 and 36 apart. For improved germination, provide 4 weeks of cold, moist stratification before sowing. Butterfly weed lives up to its name, attracting monarchs and other butterflies. Ironweed fine textured foliage like amsonia, with long needles from a central stem. Plants from the asclepias genus tend to be either half hardy or hardy perennials some of the common names for members of asclepias include butterfly weed, milkweed, orange milkweed and pleurisy root milkweed plants normally flower in the summer. Plant butterfly weed in mixed borders, meadows and natural areas. These vigorous butterfly weed plants can bloom from early summer until frost, and they flowers are also great for cutting. There is evidence that ancient puebloans used fibers from the butterfly weed in their textiles. Growing butterfly weed requires very little effort. Butterfly weed 2017 perennial plant associations plant of the year. This genus, commonly known as milkweed, consists of many north american native species, and is most notable for attracting butterflies.
In older plants the long tap root can extend down a foot or more. Magenta purple flower clusters dance above the foliage in late summer. Plant profile for asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies. This plant was documented by thomas jefferson in his garden book, notes on the state of virginia, or other writings. Place with the top of root about 121 below soil level and 1518 apart. Asclepias tuberosa is not palatable to deer and other herbivores but all sorts of insects love it. A widely distributed north american native plant, butterfly weed is one of the brightest meadow wildflowers. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa american meadows. Purchase of one unit will include one type of plant. Establishment butterfly milkweed is easily propagated by both seed.
Dyer, credentialed garden writer butterfly weed is appropriately named, as the nectar and pollenrich flowers attract hummingbirds and hordes of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects throughout the blooming season. Variegated tropical milkweed shady oak butterfly farm. Use asclepias in pollinator gardens, sunny borders, and meadows. Nov 11, 2019 the butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a member of the milkweed family. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed high country gardens. Butterfly weed, whorled milkweed, and common milkweed should all be spaced about 18 apart. Most milkweed species require moderately acidic soil with optimal ph levels between 4. This showy native wildflower is easy to grow, cold hardy, and does well in poor, dry soils. This rugged plant thrives in dry soil to welldrained loam. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed, butterfly weed from north. Asclepias purpurascens purple milkweed for monarchs.
It is an important larval food source for the monarch butterfly. Bare root butterfly weed should be dry but firm in the bags. Butterfly milkweed for monarchs burpee seeds and plants. Deerresistant butterfly plants this list of butterfly nectar and host plants, currently fairly general, has been gathered from several sources. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. Butterflyweed is fantastic in borders paired with prairie dropseed or little bluestem. The plant will grow to 2 to 3 feet in height and 15 to 24 inches wide.
This special selection of the wildflower orange butterfly weed is. Easy care, drought tolerant and deer resistant, asclepias tuberosa hello yellow butterfly weed is a bushy perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of bright golden yellow flowers which bloom continuously from early to late summer. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa, a hardy kind of asclepias, grows in u. After all danger of frost has passed, sow in open ground well exposed. Although a single plant produces many flowers and makes a colorful show all by itself, several clumps of milkweed here and there in the garden are even. A monarch butterfly feeding on nectar from a milkweed. It readily establishes from asclepias flower seeds, and it produces clear white flowers and dark green foliage. The sap is clear, which is unique among the many kinds of milkweeds. Butterfly weed is a perennial wildflower native to north america. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed from new moon nurseries. Asclepias tuberosa is a native of midwest prairies and a favorite garden plant for its ability to attract butterflies with profusion of bright orange flowers. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed high country. These tiny orange plant lice suck the plants sap and exude sticky honeydew that is the perfect cultural medium for black sooty mold. Feb 07, 2020 if you cannot get the butterfly weed seeds to grow, try purchasing and planting a full grown butterfly weed plant and planting it in your garden instead.
Asclepias plant growing guide how to grow milkweed. Butterfly weed needs a location with full sun to light shade and spacing of 12 to 24 inches between plants. Hello yellow butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa proven. Asclepias are often subshrub like in nature and the they range in size from 30 cm to 2 metres. Some of the common names for members of asclepias include butterfly weed, milkweed, orange milkweed and pleurisy root. It thrives in light, sandy, well drained soil with full sun. If condensation has formed on the inside of the bag, open and let it air out then close it again. How to plant butterfly weed seeds home guides sf gate.
Blue is the most commonly grown variety, and the only one thats moderately cold hardy. Some native americans learned to chew butterfly weed roots as a remedy for some pulmonary issues. Butterfly weed is appropriately named, as the nectar and pollenrich flowers attract hummingbirds and hordes of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects throughout the blooming season. Grow at least 6 plants together so your monarch caterpillars dont run out of food. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed for monarch butterflies.
Asclepias has a long taproot what is easily damaged when it. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Order your butterfly weed plant from nature hills today. Swamp milkweed is a perennial and a mature plant takes 2 or 3 years can get 3 4 feet wide. Make sure the plants are well watered, but not overwatered. Butterfly weed as a host plant for the monarch butterfly it is an easy choice to plant butterfly weed if you want to attract loads of butterflies to your garden. Asclepias gay butterflies mixture white flower farm. These handsome, native plants will attract lots of monarch butterflies to your garden. Butterfly milkweed grows on sandy, loamy, or rocky limestone soils of prairies, open woodlands, roadsides, and disturbed areas similar to other milkweed species. Use it in butterfly gardens, as well as the middle or back of the border. The plant height may be reduced by cutting back the stems in late spring. The plant, suitable for growing in usda plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, thrives in bright sunlight and poor, dry, sandy or gravelly soil with a slightly acidic or neutral ph. Butterfly weed plants can grow up to 3 feet in height and produce their famous flowers in spring through early fall. While plants prefer sandy soil, they do tolerate dry soil, as long as it is not clay or.
In fact, it is almost impossible to grow milkweed without a throng of oleander aphids in residence. Butterfly milkweed, a perennial wildflower also known as asclepias, thrives in meadows and along roadsides, but theyre also terrific in flower beds too. Other milkweeds that are similar in flower to the butterfly milkweed are the blood flower and the swamp milkweed. Besides their beauty, you can also enjoy the knowledge that you are keeping a native species thriving. Bright orange clusters of flowers sit atop of this. Butterfly weed needs a drier, welldrained location to. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa native butterfly host plant. Mexican butterfly weed seeds tropical milkweed wildflower seed. Butterfly weed needs a drier, welldrained location to successfully seed into and grow well. Butterfly weed is easy to grow from seeds started indoors or sown directly into the. Plant zone map taming wildflowers book gift certificates our guarantee.
Aphids can also be removed by blasting the plant with a high pressure stream of water. American plant exchange milkweed butterfly attractant live plant, 1 gallon pot, red and orange flowers 3. When the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the leaves of milkweed. Butterfly weed one of the best garden additions is butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa. If space is limited, try planting butterflyattracting flowers in containers, window boxes or. It readily establishes from flower seed, and then it blooms unchecked through the most severe heat and drought. An excellent addition to the pollinator garden, ironweed is a host plant for the american painted lady butterfly. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa, the butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern north america. Or plant locally purchased plants in spring after danger of frost has passed or summer, in full sun on compostamended, welldrained soil. So much so that it was voted the 2017 perennial plant of the year by the perennial plant association. Their flowers are excellent nectar sources, and the plants are important hosts for the larval stage of the monarch butterfly.
As a host plant for the monarch butterfly it is an easy choice to plant butterfly weed if you want to attract loads of butterflies to your garden. Forms an upright clump of narrow green leaves, bearing showy clusters flowers in mid to late summer in shades of yellow, gold, orange and scarlet. Shipping begins the week of april 6th, 2020 learn more bag of 3 plant 3 pot tray of 16 tray of 32. Butterfly weed asclepias seeds grow sunhardy plants native to the rocky terrain of the eastern united states and are an ideal fit amongst any efficient, dry, or. Winterhardy as well, asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies returns for years to repeat its glorious show. Planting instructions for asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed. Butterfly weed seeds asclepias tuberosa monticello shop. Butterfly, common, showy, and bloodflower milkweed, attracts monarch and other butterflies to your garden. Blue porterweed guide to florida landscape plants for.
I tried digging up my butterfly weed to move it and it died when i replanted it. This easy to grow perennial is native to meadow areas in most of the united states from california to wisconsin all the way to maine and florida. These butterfly weed giant flower heads are more than 5 inches across and in vivid shades of red, yellow, and orange. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed prairie moon nursery. The butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a member of the milkweed family. Plant your butterfly weed in a sunny spot in a sandy loam that stays relatively dry and welldraining. Usda hardiness zones 3a9b lows 40 c or 40 f native to most of the eastern us and ontario canada. Asclepias tuberosa butterflies are very attracted to asclepias, hence the common name. Then, the following year you could try growing seeds near the purchased one. Super hardy and astonishingly colorful, you cant go wrong with these in your garden. Although it grows naturally in moist soils, and tolerates brief flooding, it also does equally well in average garden soils.
Butterfly weed plants can grow up to 3 feet in height and produce their famous flowers. Milkweed flowers are arranged in flattopped or rounded flower clusters umbels. Sitting atop upright flowering stems, clad with stiff, lanceshaped leaves, the colorful umbels are followed by attractive seed pods in the fall. Proven winners hello yellow butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa yellow golden yellow plant details, information and resources.
Sow seeds indoors in peat pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date, thinning to one plant per pot. If stems wilt after harvest, rehydrate in water for 24 hours. Excerpted from my book, new england getting started garden guide. Butterfly weed plants mix beautifully with other natives like yarrow, rudbeckia and sage. Variegated tropical milkweed charlottes blush asclepias curassavica charlottes blush plant type. Wait for the butterfly weed to start growing in the springtime. The spiky leafed stem carries large bracts of dozens of red buds which turn orange as they open. Common milkweed plants grow to about two to four feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit. Grow milkweed to help monarch butterflies gardening basics. This tough perennial helps out monarchs, and the flowers are a great nectar source for many other pollinators. Butterfly weed is slow to emerge in spring, so you may want to mark where they are. This easy care perennial will liven up your garden with large, flattopped clusters of bright orange flowers all summer long on foot tall plants.
What is a butterfly weed how to grow butterfly weed in. Common milkweed asclepias syriaca is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterfliesespecially the monarch, which deposits its eggs on the milkweed. Swamp milkweed asclepias incarnata white asclepias incarnata ice ballet is a marvelous longblooming, bright white cousin of butterfly weed. What is a butterfly weed how to grow butterfly weed in the. They are used to determine whether a plant is likely to be perennial in your area. Can tolerate drought once established soil requirements. Perennial plant association plant of the year 2017. A vigorous, hardy, and rugged grower, plants are about two feet tall and can become invasive. How to grow milkweed for monarch butterflies garden design. Gardeners hq guide to growing milkweed, pleurisy root, and butterfly weed plants from the asclepias genus tend to be either half hardy or hardy perennials. Blue porterweed is one of the most popular of south floridas butterfly attracting plants, with brilliant blue flowers appearing partway up the funky, swirly, upright stems. Swamp milkweed seed asclepias incarnata white flower seeds. Butterfly weed has an interesting and unusual flower structure. Once established, butterfly weed is quite drought tolerant.
Learn how to grow and care for butterfly weed and milkweed in this article. In addition, many native american tribes throughout history have used the butterfly milkweed plant for making rope, cloth, medicine, and as a food source. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed is a food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars and very attractive to many varieties of butterflies. This special selection of the wildflower orange butterfly weed is unique in its ability to grow in heavier soils including clay. Botanically known as asclepias tuberosa, it has a few common names. Zones are based on the lowest average temperature an area is expected to receive during the winter. Contrary to the plant s name, it is not considered a noxious weed, but is valued for the deep orange, red and yellow flowers which attract monarch butterflies. If your zone is equal to or higher than the zone listed for the plant, it will be hardy for you and thrive in your climate.