Asclepias tuberosa

Common Name: Butterfly Weed

A virtually hassle-free, very long lived perennial, offering three months of tangerine orange blooms (occasionally red or yellow) from early through late summer. Deadheading the flowers will stimulate another bloom cycle about a month after the first one. The flowers, which are heavily laden with nectar and pollen, are particularly attractive to hummingbirds, Monarch butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

Gather bouquets of Asclepias all summer long; the long stems are wonderful for cutting and are long-lasting. Sear the ends of the cut stems over a flame to stop the milky sap from leaking out.

Following the fabulous flowers, green fruits develop which rupture to reveal seeds with long, silvery-white, silky hairs reminiscent of its cousin, common milkweed. These are great to use in dried flower arrangements.

Height:

24.0 Inches

Spread:

24.0 Inches

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Flower Color:

Orange Shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Low Water Needs

Average Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Poor Soil Quality

Average Soil Quality

Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)

Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Early Summer

Midsummer

Late Summer

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Butterflies

Attracts Hummingbirds

Bee Friendly

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant

Seasonal Interest:

Dried Seed Heads

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Eclectic

Prairie

Rain Garden

Other Features:

Border Plant

Cut Flower

Dried Flower

Drought Tolerant

Mass Planting

Origin:

Native to North America