Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Milkweed

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Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is typically found in dryer, sandier soils. This shorter bright orange flowered member of the milkweed genus is a great stand alone garden plant as well as a necessary component of short grass prairie ecosystems.

Unlike other milkweeds, a plucked butterfly milkweed leaf does not exude a milky sap.

In presettlement times, Asclepias tuberosa was found only in prairie sites. It was one of a few prairie species that was able to naturally seed, grow, and proliferate in open, dry, non-prairie environments. It therefore is found throughout the region and is not a specific prairie indicator.

Its range extends to cover the entire United States with the exception of the north western portion.

It is a host plant for Monarch butterflies and supports countless other pollinators.

What is Stratification?

Planting Milkweed

Flower Color: Orange

Height: 2 to 4 Feet

Light Requirements: Full Sun

Soil Hydrology: Dry to Mesic Soils

Bloom Time: June to August

Plant Type: Perennial

Stratification: Cold Moist (CM) 60 Days

Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Host Plant: Monarch, Grey Hairstreak, Queens