Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Common Name: Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa is a vibrant, long-lived perennial native to North America. Known for its bright orange flower clusters, this milkweed is a vital host plant for monarch butterflies and a favorite of many pollinators. Unlike other milkweeds, it has low sap content and a tidy, upright habit. Drought-tolerant once established, it’s ideal for pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, and xeriscape settings. Mature plants typically reach 18–30 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide.
Care and Cultivation:
Prefers full sun
Water moderately during establishment; drought tolerant once mature
Use well-draining soil
Best suited for in-ground planting or deep containers
Frost Tolerance and Cold Hardiness:
Best suited for USDA Zones 3–9
Extremely cold hardy; tolerates winter temperatures down to -30°F (-34°C)
Cold hardy and dies back in winter
Returns reliably in spring
Winter Dormancy and Health:
Enters full dormancy in winter
Reduce watering during dormancy
New growth emerges in warm weather
Notes:
Essential host plant for monarch caterpillars
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance
Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Common Name: Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa is a vibrant, long-lived perennial native to North America. Known for its bright orange flower clusters, this milkweed is a vital host plant for monarch butterflies and a favorite of many pollinators. Unlike other milkweeds, it has low sap content and a tidy, upright habit. Drought-tolerant once established, it’s ideal for pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, and xeriscape settings. Mature plants typically reach 18–30 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide.
Care and Cultivation:
Prefers full sun
Water moderately during establishment; drought tolerant once mature
Use well-draining soil
Best suited for in-ground planting or deep containers
Frost Tolerance and Cold Hardiness:
Best suited for USDA Zones 3–9
Extremely cold hardy; tolerates winter temperatures down to -30°F (-34°C)
Cold hardy and dies back in winter
Returns reliably in spring
Winter Dormancy and Health:
Enters full dormancy in winter
Reduce watering during dormancy
New growth emerges in warm weather
Notes:
Essential host plant for monarch caterpillars
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance
