Description
Scientific name: Asclepias tuberosa
Range: Upper Peninsula native
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy
Moisture: Dry, medium
Benefits:
Height: 2′
Blooms: June, July, August
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Color: Yellow-orange, orange
Spacing: 1–3 feet
Root: Tap root
Benefits: Pollinators, Birds, Deer Resistant, Host Plant
The unmistakable, intense orange of butterfly weed has made it popular eye candy in native and nonnative gardens. Unlike its cousin common milkweed, it does not wander, so you can plant it in a well-ordered perennial bed without fear of thuggery. As with all milkweeds, it serves as a host for the monarch butterfly. Can be slow to appear in spring; be patient.
