Butterfly Weed
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Pickup currently unavailable at Native Gardeners
Pickup currently unavailable
407 South Pipeline Road East
Euless TX 76040
United States
+12148140932
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias tuberosa, also known as butterfly weed, is a wonderful perennial plant native to Texas. It thrives beautifully in the dry, rocky open woods, meadows, prairies, fields, and roadsides across the state. This charming plant typically grows in a delightful clump ranging from 1 to 2.5 feet tall and showcases clusters (umbels) of bright, cheerful orange to yellow-orange flowers perched atop hairy stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Unlike many milkweeds, this lovely species doesn't have milky-sapped stems.
The vibrant butterfly weed flowers transition into spindle-shaped seed pods, measuring 3 to 6 inches long, which split open when ripe, releasing a multitude of silky-tailed seeds that dance through the wind. The seed pods are a favorite in dried flower arrangements, and this plant has a wonderfully long bloom period, spanning from late spring to summer. The flowers are a delightful source of nectar for many butterflies, while the leaves serve as a nutritious food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Historically, the plant's roots have been used medicinally to soothe lung inflammations, and it's also fondly referred to as pleurisy root.
Butterfly weed is a breeze to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils under full sun. It's drought-tolerant and thrives even in poorer, dry soils. You'll often see new growth emerging late in the spring, and these plants can be quickly cultivated from seeds. However, be patient; they may take 2 to 3 years to bloom. If seed pods aren’t removed before they burst open, mature plants can happily self-seed throughout the landscape. Butterfly weed doesn’t transplant well due to its deep taproot, so it’s best to let it settle in once established.
Butterfly Host Plant: Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Queen ( Danaus gilippus), Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle)
Nectar Source Plant: Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Giant Swallowtail ( Papilio cresphontes), Queen (Danaus gilippus), Tiger Swallowtail ( Papilio glaucus), Sulphur butterflies (Colias spp.), Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes spp.), Great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Height: 1’-2'
Spread: 1’-1.5'
Bloom: June-September
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Texas, United States
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
