Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed is a bushy, upright, native perennial with branched clusters of orange flowers. The dark green leaves are stiff and lance-shaped.

Large seedpods split open in fall releasing showy, silky seeds. 

The flower color, fall leaf color, and interesting seedpods make this plant a wonderful addition to landscapes in our area. It is important to native insects, so it makes a good addition to a pollinator garden.

Butterfly milkweed naturally grows on sandy or rocky soil.  

 

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed is a bushy, upright, native perennial with branched clusters of orange flowers. The dark green leaves are stiff and lance-shaped.

Large seedpods split open in fall releasing showy, silky seeds. 

The flower color, fall leaf color, and interesting seedpods make this plant a wonderful addition to landscapes in our area. It is important to native insects, so it makes a good addition to a pollinator garden.

Butterfly milkweed naturally grows on sandy or rocky soil.  

 

Plant details
bar-chart-01
Botanic Name

Asclepias tuberosa

bar-chart-01
Pronunciation

ass-KLE-pee-us too-ber-OH-suh

bar-chart-01
Mature Height

15 to 18 in.

bar-chart-01
Mature Spread

15 to 18 in.

bar-chart-01
Water usage
Water Usage

One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.

Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.

Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.

bar-chart-01
Flower Color

orange

bar-chart-01
Bloom time

mid- to late summer

bar-chart-01
Colorado Native

No

bar-chart-01
Natural Habitat

North America

bar-chart-01
Light Requirements

sun

bar-chart-01
Cold Hardiness

USDA zones 4-9

bar-chart-01
Elevation Limit

hardy to 8,000 ft.

View more plants

Prickly Thrift
Prickly Thrift

Acantholimon glumaceum

Serbian Yarrow
Serbian Yarrow

Achillea ageratifolia subsp. serbica

Coronation Gold Yarrow
Coronation Gold Yarrow

Achillea 'Coronation Gold'

Moonshine Yarrow
Moonshine Yarrow

Achillea 'Moonshine'

Snow-on-the-Mountain
Snow-on-the-Mountain

Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'

Sonoran Sunset Hyssop
Sonoran Sunset Hyssop

Agastache cana 'Sinning'

Sunset Hyssop
Sunset Hyssop

Agastache rupestris

Blue Fortune Hyssop
Blue Fortune Hyssop

Agastache 'Blue Fortune'

Parry's Agave
Parry's Agave

Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana

Lady's Mantle
Lady's Mantle

Alchemilla mollis