Asclepias tuberosa, also known as butterfly weed, is a wonderful perennial plant native to Texas. It thrives beautifully in the dry, rocky open woods, meadows, prairies, fields, and roadsides across the state. This charming plant typically grows in a delightful clump ranging from 1 to 2.5 feet tall and showcases clusters (umbels) of bright, cheerful orange to yellow-orange flowers perched atop hairy stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Unlike many milkweeds, this lovely species doesn’t have milky-sapped stems.
The vibrant butterfly weed flowers transition into spindle-shaped seed pods, measuring 3 to 6 inches long, which split open when ripe, releasing a multitude of silky-tailed seeds that dance through the wind. The seed pods are a favorite in dried flower arrangements, and this plant has a wonderfully long bloom period, spanning from late spring to summer. The flowers are a delightful source of nectar for many butterflies, while the leaves serve as a nutritious food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars).
Butterfly weed is a breeze to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils under full sun. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives even in poorer, dry soils. You’ll often see new growth emerging late in the spring, and these plants can be quickly cultivated from seeds. However, be patient; they may take 2 to 3 years to bloom. If seed pods aren’t removed before they burst open, mature plants can happily self-seed throughout the landscape. Butterfly weed doesn’t transplant well due to its deep taproot, so it’s best to let it settle in once established.
BONAP MAP
Height: 1’-2′ Spread: 1’-1.5′ Bloom: June-September Light: Full Sun-Part Shade Water: Low-Medium Zone: 3-9 Origin: Texas, U.S. and eastern Canada
