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Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Also known as: Orange Milkweed

Critical host plant for monarch butterflies. Tap-rooted, dislikes transplanting once established.

Family

Apocynaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1–2.5 ft

Spacing

1–1.5 ft apart

Light

sun

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

May, June, July, August, September

Bloom colors

orange, yellow

Wildlife value

butterflies, hummingbirds, larval host, monarch host, pollinators

Landscape uses

border

Native states

AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV