Scientific name: Asclepias tuberosa Pronunciation:as-KLEE-pee-us too-bur-O-suh Common name(s): butterfly weed, Indian paintbrush, butterfly milkweed Family: Apocynaceae Plant type:herbaceous; annual USDA hardiness zones:8 through 10 (Figure 3) Planting months for zone 7:June; July Planting months for zone 8:May; June; July; August Planting months for zone 9:March; April; May; June; July; August; September Planting months for zone 10 and 11:February; March; April; May; June; July; August; Septem… Milkweed is also well known for attracting butterflies and serving as a host plant for their caterpillars. Butterfly weed(Asclepias tuberosa), also called butterfly milkweed, has orange or yellow flowers and grows about two feet tall. Tropical milkweed also has a higher concentration of cardenolides, which may affect monarchs in the caterpillar stage of their life cycle. The plants grow to two- to four-feet-tall and flower from spring until fall. tuberosa butterfly milkweed Legal Status. Not only is it attractive, it's an important nectar source for bees and other insects. Some long-season wildflowers are well known, like black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), scarlet salvia (Salvia coccinea), pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), and powderpuff mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa). From late summer through early fall it produces orange or yellow flowers. Which should you choose for your garden? Easy care, drought tolerant and deer resistant, Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is a bushy perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers which bloom continuously throughout summer. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is beautiful, but not native to Florida. Credit: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org, The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Grow Native Milkweed to Support the Monarch--the Panhandle Outdoors, UF/IFAS Extension, If You Plant it, They Will Come -- UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Milkweed for Monarchs in Central Florida--UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, Monarchs and Milkweed: Six Things You Can Do to Help--UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County, Native Habitats for Monarch Butterflies in South Florida, Are Non-native Milkweeds Killing Monarch Butterflies?--Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Different species are found in very wet habitats as well as in very dry ones. Find out if it's a good idea for your monarch butterfly garden... Monarch Butterfly Garden- Bring Home the Butterflies. More information about this non-native is available through the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants. Asclepias tuberosa1 Edward F. Gilman2 Introduction Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Fig. Keep pets and small children away. A butterfly host plant for Monarchs in particular; butterflies also cherish its lavish flower clusters filled with scrumptious nectar. 2. Share. © 2021 University of Florida / IFAS / Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants This helps reduce the risk of disease build up. A. tuberosa's vibrant colors make it attractive to a number of pollinators. “It’s not as simple as saying, ‘we plant milkweed and the … In many nurseries, the most readily available species of milkweed happens is a popular but non-native one. Asclepias tuberosa NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. We’ll talk about what it takes to grow those first- we know that’s why a lot of you clicked. For more information about milkweed and other pollinator species, contact your county Extension office. South Caution. UF/IFAS Sites Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa -- Florida Museum Featured Creatures: Monarch Butterfly Grow Native Milkweed to Support the Monarch--the Panhandle Outdoors, UF/IFAS Extension If You Plant it, They Will Come -- UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Milkweed … It flowers into the fall. Asclepias tuberosa, the butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America. This one is commonly called butterfly weed; butterflies are greatly attracted. Milkweed is the only host plant the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) can use to complete its lifecycle. But for a pollinator-friendly garden, we think it's worth the effort. Tropical milkweed's status will be reassessed periodically. Asclepias Tuberosa - Common name:Butterfly Weed - 2017 Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year. Asclepias quadrifolia, commonly known as whorled milkweed or four-leaf milkweed, is an upright single-stemmed herbaceous perennial that typically grows to 1-2 1/2’ tall. It grows in sandy or loamy soil in prairies, roadsides, and open woodlands. Aphids can also cause damage. Tips for Raising Native Milkweed. Native Habitats: Marshes, swamps Asclepias Tuberosa is an important native plant for the survival of the Monarch Butterfly, and provides you with lovely orange blooms at the same time. It’s less successful as a pillow stuffing lacking fluffiness for comfort. 1). UF Privacy Policy Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial native with orange or yellow flowers that appear in late summer and early fall. The flower colors are orange, red and yellow. Others, such as Asclepias perennis, or aquatic milkweed, and Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, must be grown using trays without drain holes, as their “feet” must be kept wet. Our Wildflower Meadow at the UF/IFAS Orange County Extension center hosts a variety of native plant species. And this popular plant hosts many more besides monarchs. Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. This is a great Milkweed for a sunny location in a dry area. Its year-round growth may encourage monarchs to overwinter instead of following their normal migration pattern. Butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ), also called butterfly milkweed, has orange or yellow flowers and grows about two feet tall. No known synonyms Conclusions by Zone. Planting multiple species can also increase the attractiveness to butterflies and other pollinators. Two milkweed species are commonly offered for sale as "butterfly garden plants." Asclepias tuberosa, commonly called butterfly weed, is a tuberous rooted, Missouri native perennial which occurs in dry/rocky open woods, glades, prairies, … Check the label for the scientific name to avoid confusing this plant with a native milkweed species. Daniels recommends either Asclepias incarnata, also called swamp milkweed, or Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterflyweed.Asclepias humistrata, or pinewoods milkweed, is also common throughout northern Florida and essential to monarch recolonization. Asclepias curassavica. Milkweeds generally grow quickly, reaching a final height of one to four feet tall, depending on the species. Butterfly weed is common throughout Florida, preferring to grow in dry sandy places: pasture fence rows and sandhill areas. Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. Butterfly Garden Ideas and Gardening Tips to Attract Monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds, and other Precious Pollinators. 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