Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

This bushy, 1.5-2 ft. perennial is prized for its large, flat-topped clusters of bright-orange flowers. Although it is sometimes called Orange Milkweed, this species has no milky sap and very narrow leaves, which makes it easy to tell apart from other milkweed species. It is a host species for the Monarch butterfly. It is better suited to grow in a dry environment and emerges later in the spring due to it’s long tap root. Be sure to plant in full sun.

Planting/Harvesting Notes

  • Plant in well drained sandy soil in full sun.
  • This plant is drought tolerant
  • Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and aphids. To control aphids, import/attract lady bugs or use a high pressure water hose to spray the bugs away.

Seed saving notes

Wait until pods form on the plant. Once the pods have dried and slightly popped open, you should see brown seeds inside. Collect this and separate them from the fluffy parts. Store the seeds in a labeled paper envelope/bag.

To start from seed, place in a coffee filter or paper towel and seal into a plastic baggie. Store in the refrigerator for 30 days, then plant in potting soil. Transplant when seedlings are 4 inches tall and all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, scatter seeds in the fall and rake into the soil. They should germinate the following spring.

Image credit: “Butterfly Weed” by BlueRidgeKitties is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

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