USDA Plants Database
NWF Native Gardening and Invasive Plants Guide
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa (Asclepiadaceae family)
Native Range:
Often found along roadsides and naturalized areas throughout eastern North America.
Habit:
An herbaceous perennial 18 to 30 inches tall by 18 to 24 inches wide. Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed (a group of plants with milky sap that is poisonous to most insects). It is non-invasive and often slow to emerge in spring.
Culture:
Butterfly weed prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It will perform well in dry conditions, however it does not compete with surface-rooted trees. Aphids can be a problem on the stems and buds, but can be controlled by hand wiping the plants with soap or oil. Butterfly Weed is a great choice for meadow plantings and other naturalized plantings.
Leaves:
The first shoots are often slow to emerge in spring. The leaves are alternate or whorled and are between two and six inches long. They are a deep green color and lack significant fall color.
Flowers:
Produces very showy orange quarter-inch flowers in late spring through summer. Flowers are in flat clusters (umbels) of 20 or more individual flowers and can range in color from pale yellow to bright red.
Fruit:
Produces a long, oval-shaped pod after blooming which opens to reveal small seeds. The seeds have a tuft of hair, which makes them easily airborne.
Wildlife Value:
Butterfly weed is an excellent, low maintenance perennial and is an important food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Many species of butterflies eat from the flowers—this plant is aptly named!
Butterfly weed is easily propagated from seed or cuttings and brings a bright splash of color to any naturalized garden setting. This plant is also listed in several publications as having medicinal properties. There are several cultivars available in the trade and care should be taken when transplanting them since they have a deep taproot.
Where to find butterfly weed at the Zoo:
- American Prairie Exhibit: Plant Discovery Trail
- Butterfly Garden: behind Invertebrate House
- Great Ape House: moat on orangutan side
- Bird House: garden at the end of the Wetlands wooden deck
References:
Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants by Steven M. Stull
