Unknown ecotype
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, clump-forming, non-rhizomatous, deep rooted
Size: Typically 1.5 to 3 feet tall; 1 to 2 feet wide
Flowering Time: May to September; heavist showing in June
Bloom Color: Bright orange (occasionally yellow or reddish-orange)
Habitat: Dry prairies, open woods, roadsides, fields, sandhills
Moisture: Dry to average; requires well-drained soil
Light: Full sun to dappled light, best showing in full sun
Soils: Sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils; does not tolerate heavy clay
Uses: Pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, xeriscaping, prairie restoration, rock gardens, erosion control
Asclepias tuberosa (Orange butterflyweed)
Asclepias tuberosa is commonly known as Butterflyweed, Butterfly Milkweed, or Orange Milkweed, is a standout native valued for its brilliant orange blooms and exceptional drought tolerance. Unlike many other milkweeds, it lacks milky sap and spreads slowly from a deep taproot rather than by rhizomes. It is also more low and bushy rather than upright in habit compared to others of its genus.
Orange butterflyweed's vibrant umbels of flowers appear from late spring through summer and attract a flurry of pollinator activity. This species thrives in full sun and well-drained, nutrient-poor soils, making it ideal for dry gardens, open meadows, and prairie plantings.
Butterfly Weed is a host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) as well as for Queen and Gray Hairstreak butterflies. Its nectar-rich flowers support a wide range of pollinators, including native bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, and beetles. It plays a key role in supporting declining Monarch populations and is a foundational plant for butterfly gardens and habitat restoration efforts.
Its strong, upright stems and showy blooms make it popular in both wild and formal landscapes, and its deep roots (once established) can go several feet down into the soil, giving it great resilience to drought and neglect. Due to its slow growth and dislike of root disturbance, it performs best when left in its chosen spot, and is difficult to transplant. Butterfly Weed is susceptible to crown rot if planted in poorly drained or too constantly moist locations.