Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
A favorite of humans and butterflies alike, every garden should have Butterfly Milkweed. While its bright orange blooms attract all manner of bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators, its leaves provide essential food for Monarch caterpillars. After a long and prolific blooming period, the stunning flowers give way to interesting, narrow seed pods that explode with silky-tailed seeds. Butterfly Milkweed is the perfect plant for that hot, dry spot in your garden and will seed around, providing you (and the caterpillars) with more to love.
Conditions: Full sun; dry to medium soil
Size: 1′ – 2.5′ tall
Zone: 3 – 9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators; larval host for Monarch butterflies
