Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)

Size: 1-2’ tall / 1-1.5’ wide

Sun: Full Sun

Soil: Average, Well-Drained

Bloom Time: Summer

Deer Resistance: 4.5/5

Ecotype: Virginia

Butterfly Milkweed is long-lived perennial with a striking orange flower in the summer. It performs well in dry-medium soils that are well-drained in full sun sites. It has a deep taproot that will easily succumb to root rot if planted in an area with poor drainage. Be sure to plant this where you want it-- the tap root is also what makes this species difficult to transplant.

All members of the Asclepias genus serve as host plants for the endangered Monarch butterfly, and Butterfly Milkweed is no exception. Other butterflies and bees will also visit the flowers as a nectar source, and Milkweed Bugs will feed on the seeds. The nonnative Oleander Aphid has proven to be a pest, but it does not kill established plants. Be sure not to spray pesticides on any Milkweed, as this can harm other insects that rely on the plant. 

With so many insects eating milkweed, it is a true workhorse in a wildlife garden. Remember-- this is why we plant native plants! With that being said, by the end of the season it will look ragged at best. You can downplay this by planting it among grasses and other perennials. I especially like to grow Butterfly Milkweed alongside Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), and Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.).