The term “butterfly weed” comes from the fact that it is the primary food source for butterflies, particularly monarch butterflies, who use it as a host plant during their caterpillar and butterfly stages. However, the monarch butterfly isn’t the only pollinator attracted to butterflyweed. The butterfly weed attracts a variety of butterflies, as well as honey bees, bumble bees, and hummingbirds. Swallowtails, painted ladies, hairstreaks, and fritillaries are all attracted to butterfly weed. Unfortunately, because plants often don’t flower until their third year, patience is required to enjoy what the butterfly weed can contribute to your garden. Although the wait is long, butterfly weed blossoms are well worth the wait. It’s a good idea to bring your camera because there’s a beautiful display of bright orange blossoms and a long list of regular visitors.
Butterfly weed is a herbaceous dogbane family member native to the eastern United States and Canada’s dry fields, prairies, meadows, forests, canyons, and slopes. It thrives in full sun in loamy or sandy soils with good drainage. Butterflyweed is grown for its ornamental appeal, and its blossoms are used to make a variety of cut flower bouquets.
Each butterfly weed plant has a multi-branched, erect stem that grows one to three feet tall. After a few years, each branch is coated in hairs and turns woody, with flower clusters emerging at the ends of each branch as the plant matures. Butterfly weed leaves are lanceolate, linear, or oblong in shape, with smooth edges and pointy points, and alternately placed on the stem. The upper side of the leaves is darker and more lustrous than the underside.
Butterfly weed produces vivid orange flower clusters of petite, five-petaled, star-shaped flowers three years after sowing. Butterfly weed blooms from May to September and hosts an apollinator party all summer long.
The butterfly weed plant’s fruit is a slender, hairy greyish-green pod that ripens around the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Hundreds of seeds are contained in each pod. The seeds have silky white tufts of hair that help them disseminate and find new homes by allowing them to fly on the breeze.
People and Pets Shouldn’t Eat It
Both humans and animals are poisoned by all portions of the butterfly weed. If you eat the blossoms, stems, leaves, or root, you’ll get diarrhoea and vomiting. It’s possible that touching the sap will irritate your skin. Butterfly weed can make you sick even if you only eat a small quantity. Small animals are especially vulnerable since even small doses, as low as.01 to.05 percent of their body weight, can kill them. Although this is more of a problem with grazing animals than with pets, use extra caution when planting and seek medical attention right away if you fear a child or pet has eaten butterfly weed.
Varieties of Butterfly Weed
True orange is the blossom color of the original hardy species variety of Asclepias tuberosa, which is commonly sold as Asclepias tuberosa. “The variety “Hollow Yellow” has yellow flowers. “Cinderella” is a cultivar that produces pinkish-red blooms. “Gay ButterfliesMix” is a genus of plants with red, orange, and yellow flowers.
‘The’ “Silky Mix, also known as Asclepias curassavica, is a gorgeous variety of Asclepias tuberosa. Butterfly, Silky Deep Red Weed has beautiful two-toned flowers with yellow-orange crowns and deep red-orange corellas. Silky Scarlet is a tropical plant that grows as a perennial in frost-free areas and as an annual in freezing-temperature areas. Silky Scarlet blossoms are a variety of colors, ranging from salmon to bright pink, as well as tints of yellow, orange, and red. In frost-free locations, Silky Gold has golden yellow flowers that bloom all year.
Growing Conditions for ButterflyWeed
Butterfly weed thrives in full sun, but it can also thrive in partial shade as long as it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Butterfly weed has evolved to thrive in less-than-ideal soil conditions, including clay, dry, and even rocky soil and drought. USDA zones three through nine are suitable for this plant.
Care of Butterfly Weed
Keep butterfly weed well hydrated throughout its first season, but once it has established itself, don’t worry about it. Butterfly weed does not require fertilizing. Once a year, a topdressing of compost or composted manure is all that is required to keep butterfly weed alive and well.
How to Plant Butterfly Weed
Sow butterfly weed seeds straight into the soil for spring sprouts in the fall, or sow indoors after cold stratification in the winter. Direct sowing is the favored method of propagation due to their long taproots.
How To Propagate Butterfly Weed
Seeds or root cuttings can be used to propagate butterfly weed. Because butterfly weed has a lengthy taproot that might be difficult to transplant, seed is the best way to propagate it. Around the beginning of fall, seeds can be picked and preserved. They can be brought inside or buried just beneath the topsoil in the ground to survive the winter, then planted immediately into your garden beds in the early spring.
Garden Pests and Diseases ofButterfly Weed
Crown and root rot can be a problem if you grow your butterfly weed in a moist environment. Plant your butterfly weed in a hole with the crown just slightly above the soil line to avoid crown rot. Increase soil drainage and avoid overwatering your butterfly weed plants to reduce the danger of root rot.
As the parasites feed on the sap, yellow-orange oleander aphids (Aphis nerii), sometimes known as milkweed aphids, create colonies that encase the plant’s stems and leaves. Honeydew, a clear, sticky waste product that attracts a black, sooty mold, is excreted in large quantities by the bugs. A covering of powdered, soot-like fungal filaments covers the plant. A burst of water from the watering hose can be used to knock down small infestations of oleander aphids. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oils, sprayed to saturate stems and foliage, may be required for heavier infestations.
Do you cut back butterfly weed inthe fall?
Begin with clean, disinfected gardening shears, and disinfect the tool after each plant. Butterfly weed can irritate your skin, so wear gloves to protect yourself. Before new growth grows, prune your butterfly weed between late winter and early spring. Reduce the plant’s height to a third or half of its original size. All of your cuts should be no more than a quarter inch away from a leaf or leaf node.
How often should I waterbutterfly weed?
When the soil dries out, water young plants to keep them moist until they’re firmly established and exhibiting fresh growth. Butterfly weed should only require water during periods of extreme drought once it has established itself.
Is butterfly weed invasive?
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), unlike common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), does not have the swiftly spreading roots that make it invasive.
Is butterfly weed poisonous tohumans, dogs, or cats?
Both humans and pets are poisoned by butterfly weed. Large amounts are required to produce pain in humans, but because children, dogs, and cats are smaller, their danger is greater. Bloating, fever, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, muscle spasms, and death can all result from eating butterfly weed. Call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 for human poisoning, or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 for animal poisoning.
Does Butterfly Milkweed spread?
Milkweed is a favorite of Monarch Butterflies and will attract a swarm of them to your garden or meadow. It can be difficult to start, but once established, it will survive for years and spread rapidly.
Does butterfly weed rebloom?
During the spring and summer, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) develops green foliage and clusters of little red, orange, or yellow flowers. Plant hardiness zones 4 through 10 according to the US Department of Agriculture. The plant dies back each winter, but if correctly clipped, it reappears each year from its perennial root system. If consumed, all components of the butterfly weed are poisonous.
How do you plant bare root butterfly weed?
Instructions for planting: Dig a hole big enough for the roots to fit in without bending them. Work the soil around the roots, firm it up, and water it well. Place about 1/2-1″ below soil level and 15-18″ apart, with the top of the root about 1/2-1″ below soil level. Winter Care: Nothing special is required.
Do you deadhead butterfly bushes?
- When the plant is growing, water liberally; otherwise, water sparingly. If rainfall is less than 1 inch per week during the summer, water.
- Fertilize butterfly bush sparingly; too much fertility encourages leaf growth rather than blossom development.
- Furthermore, it is critical to deadhead the flowers as soon as they begin to wither in order to prevent the transmission of volunteer seeds by this invasive plant. Many states now demand that this invasive be deadheaded.
- Apply a thin layer of compost and mulch in the spring to keep moisture in the soil and keep weeds at bay.
- Spread mulch up to 6 inches deep around the trunk in cold, Northern locations to help it survive the winter.
- Buddleias are slow to emerge from hibernation, so don’t rush to assess winter damage.
- Even in its first year, the bush should blossom profusely. The shrubs will grow into trees in warmer regions and develop tough trunks that peel; peeling is typical.
- They act as herbaceous perennials near the northern limit of their range, withering back to the root in harsh winters.
- Even if there is no die-back, trim them back to the ground every spring since they blossom on fresh wood. Yes, hack all the way to the ground!
- Even if the winters are mild enough for the stems to survive, trim heavily to encourage prolific flowering development.
Do butterfly bushes have seeds?
Growing seeds is one way to propagate butterfly bush. Butterfly bushes can be grown from seed, however cuttings are usually faster and easier to spread. Pre-chilling seeds for up to four weeks before sowing is required.
Butterfly bush seeds just need to be gently covered with soil because they require a lot of light to germinate. Keep the seeds moist once they’ve been planted. Be patient as they should germinate after a few months.
Does butterfly weed have seed pods?
Butterfly Weed is a North American herbaceous perennial. It blooms for up to two months in the summer, with a typical blooming period of June to August.
This flower, which grows naturally in prairies and grasslands, is a vital plant for wildlife.
The major pollinators are bees, but it also serves as a home for a variety of butterflies.
Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs on this species of the Asclepias genus (milkweed).
Butterfly Weed Lifespan
Butterfly Weed is a long-lived perennial that thrives in a variety of soil conditions. Butterfly Milkweed bloomed for the first time this year in good soil. This, however, is not normal.
Butterfly Weed will bloom in its second year after being grown from seed.
Butterfly Weed should reach full size in the third or fourth year.
Butterfly Weed Growth Cycle
Butterfly Weed has a perennial life cycle. It will bloom in late Spring, much later than the majority of other plants. It will quickly grow to a height of 1-2 and bloom for about a month in early summer. Seed pods will appear in late summer or early autumn. The pods will ripen, open, and disseminate their seed before dying back to the ground.
Butterfly Weed Stalk
Stalks will grow to be 12-30 tall, with branching in the upper half where flowering takes place. When mature, many stems will emerge from a central root crown. The stem has a dark-purple tint to it and is covered in fine hairs.
Butterfly Weed Leaf Identification
On the stalk, the Butterfly Weed leaves are alternating and measure about 3 long by 1/2 wide with smooth margins. Veins run through most leaves, with the central vein being the most conspicuous. It’s very typical for your Butterfly Weed leaves to curl upward lengthwise.
Butterfly Weed leaves are stunning on their own. They’re dark green in the middle and slightly yellow on the edges. The upper surface is usually smooth and hairless, with a lustrous or waxy appearance.
The leaves’ undersides are a lighter shade of green, creating a pretty beautiful color shift.
Butterfly Weed leaves turning yellow
In most cases, the leaves are dark green on top and light green underneath. The margins are frequently golden in color. This has happened to me before, and I’ve found it to be perfectly normal. Butterfly Weed leaves (especially lower leaves) become yellow as the season progresses.
It could imply a few things if you notice the full leaf turning yellow before Autumn.
A nutritional deficit or an excessive amount of water. Alternatively, many native plants’ lower leaves become yellow and fall off when they lose sunlight.
If you’re concerned, top-dressing the plant with compost is the safest option.
Any nutritional deficits that the plant may be facing can be remedied by applying a 1-2 thick ring of compost around it.
If that doesn’t get rid of the yellow leaves, think about
Butterfly Weed Flower
Butterfly Weed blooms are made up of clusters (umbels) of 10-30 individual orange flowers, each measuring 1-3 inches in diameter. They resemble milkweed flowers, with five petals, sepals, and hoods with horns.
Butterfly Weed Blooming Season
Butterfly Weed blooms can last up to eight weeks, beginning in June and ending in August. However, in late August/September, you may be treated to extra blossoming.
Butterfly Weed seed pods
Butterfly Weed pods will open in early autumn, and the plant will go to seed. Butterfly Weed produces pods that are 2-4 inches long and 1/2 inch broad after the blossoms have faded. The seeds are contained in these pods, which begin maturing in late summer to early fall.
When fully ripe, these pods will open and disperse seeds carried by the wind on a feather.
Seeds have the ability to spread far and wide, colonizing disturbed, bare terrain.
How long do butterfly weed seeds last?
Fill a plastic bag with 1 cup moistened perlite and the butterfly weed seeds. For three months, keep the bag in the refrigerator.
Will milkweed take over my garden?
Asclepias syriaca, or common milkweed, is a perennial plant that can be found in a variety of settings, including roadsides, fields, and gardens. It is a North American native that reproduces mostly via seed. It can spread from its rhizomatous root system after it has established itself. The stems of common milkweed are covered in opposing, oval-shaped leaves. The pink, clustered flowers have a strong scent that attracts a variety of insects, including bees and butterflies. The blossoms eventually give place to rough seed pods, which split open and release silky-haired windborne seeds.
White, latexy sap rich with deadly cardiac glycosides can be found in all parts of the plant. The poisonous chemicals in milkweed prevent most predators from eating it. The monarch butterfly is one of the few exceptions, having evolved the ability to ingest and accumulate the poison in its body as a protective strategy. Monarch butterflies are so dependent on milkweed for survival that they cannot complete their life cycles without it.
Common milkweed is sometimes too aggressive and weedy in the landscape to be commonly used in beds and borders. It thrives in field edges or thickets that aren’t well-kept. If you currently have common milkweed in your garden, remove immature seed pods to prevent further spread. Because milkweed is a perennial, it will reappear in the same location the following season, but its expansion will be limited.
Individual plants can also be hand-pulled or treated with herbicide on a regular basis, but don’t be too hasty this season. Female monarchs have most likely placed their eggs on the undersides of the leaves or are in the midst of doing so. Only one egg is placed per plant on average, and it can be difficult to see. The Monarch caterpillars, which are already active in many areas, are more visible. Feeding marks on the leaves, as well as evidence of frass, are clear indicators of their existence. Their yellow, white, and black banded bodies, as well as black tentacles on the front and back ends, make them highly identifiable. Wait until the butterflies have emerged from their crysalids, or until late spring, before the butterflies arrive, to remove milkweed plants.
If you decide to remove all of the common milkweed from your garden, try replacing it with other native milkweed species that are less invasive. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), and whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), all of which grow in bunches and are suitable candidates for perennial beds, will also attract monarch butterflies. Leave some common milkweed on the margins for the ultimate butterfly habitat.
Which milkweed is invasive?
“It’s sad that such a lovely and vital plant in our North American ecology is labeled as a weed,” Miriam explains. The invasiveness of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the basis of the plant’s negative rep. It was also on the Ministry of Natural Resources’ noxious weeds list in Canada.
The good news is that there are milkweed varieties that do not spread. “Red milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) are also good for monarch butterflies,” explains Miriam. “Both of these plants serve as host plants for adult monarch butterflies as they lay eggs, as well as food sources for the larvae” (caterpillars). These two alternatives do not have rhizomes and are used by monarch butterflies just as frequently as common milkweed.”
Red milkweed will grow in any soil type, according to Miriam, but it favors medium to moist soils. It prefers direct sunlight (though it will tolerate a bit of shade). “Butterflyweed tolerates some shade as well, but prefers sand or loam for its soil. “It’s best if the soil is dry to medium,” she says.
And, according to Miriam, you may still plant common milkweed, especially if your soil is dry and clay. She advises planting it with a mix of other native flowers and grasses that will take up the different amounts of soil. “Common milkweed spreads through rhizomes (underground runners or roots), which is why it can grow so quickly. You provide little room for the rhizomes to migrate by putting it among a dense planting of other native species.”
Other types of monarch nutrition that you can include in your garden, according to Miriam, are liatris, goldenrod, and asters.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen many monarch butterflies flying around in my garden in recent years. I’ve seen a few other species, particularly near my buddleia, but I want to make sure the monarchs have a safe haven in my garden as well. I quickly shared the #GotMilkweed message with other gardeners so they might add it to their list of must-plants. “Anything that puts the issue of native pollinator health to the forefront is a good thing,” Miriam said, noting that the monarch butterfly issue is being brought to light thanks to David Suzuki and his team’s efforts. “In a way that only David Suzuki can, he’s increasing awareness, and it’s proving to be a positive step forward.”