Family: Asclepiadaceae

Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa

Common Name: Butterflyweed

DescriptionPictures of plants growing in garden sites.
Pronunciation(as-KLEE-pi-as)(tuu-be-ROW-sa)
Plant TypeAll Plants, Perennials Hardy
Hardiness Zone4
Sunlightbest in full sun
Moistureaverage to dry
Soil & Sitesandy, well drained, poor, does poorly in wet soils
Flowersusually brilliant orange, umbels with clusters of 25 or more individual 3/4 inch flowers, on stalks arising from the apex of a leaf
Fruitseed pod is bean shaped 6 inches long by 3/4 inch
Leavesnarrow, stackless (sessile) or short petiole, usually alternate but occasionally opposite,h ispid (hairy)
Stemsa clear sap
Rootsdeep tap root
Dimensionsup to three feet
MaintenanceProduces a deep tap root making transplanting difficult. Mark the plants spot. It breaks dormancy late and can be unknowingly damage early the spring
Propagationseeds
Native SiteNative to America.
Misc FactsAttracts butterfly's hence Butterfly weed, Pleurisy Root because it was used to treat pleurisy and other lung problems by early physicians.
Author's NotesAt my perennial nursery we would buy in Butterfly Weed roots to pot up for sale. They were long thin carrot-like and it was difficult to find tall enough pots for the plants. I always look forward to observing Butterfly Weed blooming in native sites, with the brilliant orange flowers.
Notes & Reference#40-Herbaceous Ornamental Plants (Steven Stills),#56-Tall Grass Prairie Wildflowers (Doug Ladd)
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