Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a bushy perennial with bright orange to yellow clusters of flowers. Unlike many of the other milkweeds, this species does not have milky-sapped stems. It is the host plant for Monarch and Queen butterfly caterpillars. Nectar plant for all butterflies and hummingbirds.

The plant is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It is drought tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, and does well in poor, dry soils. The plant grows easily from seed, but expect that it can take two to three years to establish and produce flowers. Mature plants may freely self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Butterfly weed does not transplant well due to its deep taproot and is probably best left undisturbed once established.


Plant seeds in the autumn after the first frost. Gently press seeds down, but don't cover. Water once, then leave them to sprout in the spring. Alternatively, you can cold stratify seeds by placing them on a damp paper towel, fold it over, place them in a recloseable plastic bag, then keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks.
Then start seeds inside 6 weeks before the last frost in spring. Don't cover the seeds with soil. Keep seeds moist during germination. Transplant outside after the seedlings have four or five leaves.

The plant will reach 28". Space plants 24" apart. Perennial in USDA Zones 3-9. Plant clump can be divided every 2-3 years.