Our native Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, has long been a favorite in the farm’s borders, beds, and meadows. It’s gotten a lot of attention in recent years since it’s an important source of food for Monarch butterflies during their larval stage. (Visit the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation’s website for additional information on its work in Monarch butterfly conservation.)
The Perennial Plant Association named it the 2017 Perennial of the Year this year.
Asclepias tuberosa (pronounced uh-sklee’pee-us) is a vividly colored flower that provides four seasons of interest in the garden, in addition to supplying food for Monarch butterflies and nectar for a broad range of pollinators. It grows to a modest 1- to 2-foot height and is hardy in zones 4 through 9S and 10W, making it suitable for the edge of the border. From July to September, the plants produce clusters of brightly colorful, nectar-rich orange blossoms. (The enhanced native species Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’ grows 23 feet tall and produces yellow blooms.) These plants can withstand drought, thrive in poor soil, and are resistant to deer.
Seedpods of Asclepias tuberosa offer beauty to borders and beds as autumn approaches. The papery seeds fill the narrow, elegant pods. The pods split apart as the season continues, and the seeds, which are connected to silky white parachutes, scatter in the breeze. The plant’s pale, empty husks remain, and as winter approaches, the pods are covered in frost and then swirling snow, looking wonderful. Asclepias tuberosa was incorporated in Dutch designer Piet Oudolf’s design for New York City’s High Line because of its winter beauty.
“The complex flowers are stars of the garden in the summer, but the empty husks of the seed pods remain a vital element of the winter garden as well,” according to a 2014 post on the Friends of the High Line site. Dry and somewhat twisted from the drying process, these oblong golden-gray husks are dry and slightly twisted. When the light is right, the outsides are rough and gray, with a trace of gold. The interiors are a soft white, like the silky hairs that captured the wind and carried the seeds away. During the deep freeze of winter, these pods top the stem’s skeleton, producing a subtle, textured beauty. “The skeletons of the plants… are equally as significant as the blossoms,” High Line planting designer Piet Oudolf said of these structures.
Keep a few things in mind before growing Asclepias tuberosa. It prefers full light and well-drained soil to thrive (sandy soil is ideal; clay and heavily enriched soils are not). After planting, water the plant thoroughly, then wait until it begins to wilt. If your Asclepias tuberosa starts to develop yellow, chlorotic-looking leaves, you’ve over-watered it.
Because some perennial Milkweed kinds are among the last to emerge from hibernation in the spring, you should note their location so that you don’t accidentally plant something on top of them.
As with many other garden additions, Asclepias tuberosa looks best when planted in groups of three or more. Showcase the vivid brilliant orange blooms of Salvia ‘May Night’ and Liatris ‘Kobold’ alongside the deep purple flower spikes of Salvia ‘May Night’ and Liatris ‘Kobold’ to create an eye-popping juxtaposition of hues and flower forms. Our head gardener has planted orange-flowering Asclepias tuberosa among a sea of other orange bloomers including Zinnia ‘Profusion Orange,’ Echinacea ButterflyTM ‘Julia,’ ButterflyTM ‘Postman,’ or Prairie PillarsTM ‘Flame Thrower,’ and Helenium ‘Short ‘n’ Sassy,’ for a tone-on-tone effect. The orange flowers of Festuca glauca Beyond BlueTM go well with decorative grasses like the 18″30″ Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ and the blue spiky foliage of Festuca glauca Beyond BlueTM in meadow gardens. They’re also a great match for Amsonia hubrechtii, a plant with green needle-like foliage that turns yellow in the fall.
Be warned that once Asclepias tuberosa has established itself, it does not like to be relocated. The plants produce deep taproots that should be left alone once planted, so place it carefully, leave it alone, and reap the advantages of this extremely beneficial plant.
Will monarch caterpillars eat Asclepias tuberosa?
Asclepias syriaca, or common milkweed, grows along roadsides and in fields, where mowing techniques may cut the milkweed down just as the caterpillars are feasting. Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed) is a spectacular, vivid orange perennial that most gardeners love for their flower beds. However, you don’t have to stick to these two typical milkweed species; there are dozens of milkweed kinds to choose from, and monarch caterpillars will eat them all. For brave butterfly gardeners who want to try something new, Monarch Watch provides a good guide to milkweeds.
What type of milkweed is best for monarchs?
Monarch caterpillars solely eat the leaves of milkweed, which is the only plant that this renowned butterfly species feeds on. As a result, milkweed is essential for monarch butterfly survival. They won’t be able to finish their life cycle without it, and their populations will dwindle.
Indeed, milkweed destruction in agricultural areas, as well as urban and suburban environments, is one of the key reasons monarch butterflies are in trouble today.
Plant Milkweed
The good news is that planting milkweed is one of the most straightforward ways that everyone of us can help monarch butterflies. There are many dozen species of this wildflower native to North America, therefore no matter where you reside, you will find at least one milkweed species.
It’s always better to plant milkweed species native to your area. To add to your garden or any landscape in your town, you can harvest your own seed or purchase seed or plants. Three species, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (Asclepias syriaca), have particularly extensive ranges and are good choices in most regions (A. tuberosa). The latter two are exceedingly decorative and generally available through the nursery trade.
Tropical milkweed, which may be found in many retail nurseries, is not native to the United States. It has, however, become naturalized in the Southeastern United States. Its long bloom time is being discovered to have certain negative consequences on monarch migration and to be a source of disease propagation among monarch populations, according to science. If you have tropical milkweed in your yard, it’s a good idea to prune it down in the winter to help monarch butterflies to migrate to their natural wintering grounds.
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
The enormous, flat-topped clusters of bright-orange flowers on this bushy, 1 1/2-2 ft. perennial are appreciated. The leaves are primarily alternate, measuring 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches long, pointy, and smooth on the edges. The 2-5 inch wide yellow-orange to bright orange flower clusters are at the apex of the blooming stalk. The magnificent flower heads are set against a dark green backdrop of stiff, lance-shaped leaves.
In home gardens, this beautiful plant is usually cultivated from seed. Its vibrant blossoms are a magnet for butterflies. Pleurisy Root was given to Butterfly Weed because its tough root was chewed by the Indians as a remedy for pleurisy and other respiratory illnesses. Although it’s known as Orange Milkweed, this plant doesn’t have any milky sap.
Do monarchs eat Asclepias?
Milkweed is the only food source for monarch caterpillars. The monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly” because it feeds on milkweed. The milkweed plant provides all of the nutrition required for the monarch caterpillar to develop into an adult butterfly.
Do monarchs eat common milkweed?
Monarch caterpillars exclusively consume milkweed plants (Asclepias spp. ), and monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.). We’ve lost a lot of milkweed as a result of changing land management methods.
Please help monarch butterflies and their epic trek by planting milkweed. Planting milkweed is also a fantastic method to support other pollinators, as it provides nectar to a wide range of bees and butterflies. Download MJV’s Gardening for Monarchs for a quick how-to flyer on planting and gardening.
Adult monarch butterflies will sip nectar from a variety of flowers in addition to milkweed; in fact, they require nectar sources throughout the growth season. Include a diverse range of native blooming species with varying bloom dates to supply monarch butterflies with the food they require to reproduce in the spring and summer, as well as to migrate in the fall. All season long, a diverse selection of natural nectar plants will attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators to your area.
The Xerces Society’s Monarch Nectar Guides can help you choose the right natural monarch nectar plants for your area. You can also ask local native plant nurseries or greenhouses for suggestions on useful pollinator species in your area.
Are you a farmer or landowner with questions about establishing, preserving, or expanding your natural monarch habitat? For technical assistance and advice, please contact our Habitat Help Desk!
Do monarch butterflies lay eggs on Asclepias tuberosa?
When all eggs from Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias verticillata, and Asclepias tuberosa were pooled, the average total eggs laid per female on each plant was calculated.
Is Asclepias Curassavica good for monarchs?
Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a non-native milkweed that has risen in popularity as a result of milkweed demand. It is easy to propagate, allowing producers to generate large quantities of the plant for immediate sale. The plant is also attractive to humans and monarch butterflies, offering blossoms and lush green foliage all year – which is a concern.
When tropical milkweed is planted in temperate places where it does not die back in the winter, it presents a problem. Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, or OE for short, is a protozoan parasite of monarch butterflies that can travel with them to the plants and be deposited on the leaves. The OE is consumed by caterpillars when they hatch and begin eating the plant. High OE levels in adult monarchs have been associated to reduced migration success, as well as lower body mass, lifespan, mating success, and flight capacity in the eastern monarch population.
When native milkweeds die back after blooming, the parasite dies with them, allowing the monarch population to feed on fresh, parasite-free foliage each summer. Tropical milkweed, on the other hand, which remains evergreen throughout the winter, permits OE levels to accumulate on the plant over time, exposing successive generations of monarch caterpillars eating on the plant to deadly levels of OE.
Monarch migration and reproduction are similarly hampered by tropical milkweed. Tropical milkweed, when grown in northern places where it can bloom later in the year than native species, may cause monarch butterflies to reproduce when they should be migrating. In California, where this milkweed is commonly planted, it may grow near overwintering places along the coast, causing monarch butterflies to reproduce when they should be resting.
What’s a gardener to do when tropical milkweed is so easily available? Plants can be trimmed back to the ground twice during the growing season to reduce disease transmission, and plants should be removed late in the summer to avoid interfering with migration, according to some advise. In practice, however, we’ve found it difficult to persuade people to trim back plants that are actively producing monarch eggs or caterpillars, or to remove lush, flowering plants.
Is Asclepias the same as milkweed?
Milkweed, often known as common milkweed, is a perennial plant native to North America. This milkweed, like the one described below, grows in “weedy” places in its habitat. They are attractive to monarch butterflies, yet if some of the milkweeds mentioned above are available, the butterflies may be more attracted to them.
Asclepias syriaca is hardy in zones 4-9. It is native to the central and eastern half of the United States and Canada. It’s simple to grow and adapts to a variety of soil types.
If you have the area outside of your garden, Asclepias syriaca is a fantastic alternative. It is invasive in a fertile garden with no weed competition. Common milkweed is difficult to eliminate because it spreads through underground rhizomes (and reseeding).
If you wish to use a milkweed plant in an ornamental garden, you need either choose a different species of milkweed (such as the ones listed above) or maintain your Common milkweed in big pots. For additional information on cultivating Common milkweed, including seed or plants, please see our description.
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
The western form of Common milkweed is Showy milkweed. It can be found over the western half of the United States and into Canada. It is a rhizomatous plant that spreads underground or by seeds, similar to Common milkweed, and is hardy in zones 4-9. Showy milkweed, like Common milkweed, can grow invasive in the garden.
When in bloom, showy milkweed earns its name. Set against silvery-green foliage, the blossoms are aromatic and rather lovely.
In dry circumstances and poor soil, Asclepias speciosa thrives. This plant does not grow well in containers unless they are 5 gallons or more, according to reports.
We offer a detailed description of Asclepias speciosa that includes information on how to grow and care for Showy milkweed, as well as seeds and plants for sale.
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Because most Monarch butterflies prefer other milkweed plants, butterfly weed is near the bottom of the list. Monarch butterflies, on the other hand, have used it in my yard when it was the first to bloom or after all other milkweed had dried up. As a nectar source, it attracts a lot of other butterflies. This plant in my butterfly garden is one of my favorites because it draws a lot of butterflies to its nectar and serves as a backup caterpillar meal.
Asclepias tuberosa is a hardy perennial that thrives in zones 3 through 9. Most of the United States and eastern Canada are home to this species. Once established, it is a simple and dependable plant that is quite well behaved in the garden. Asclepias tuberosa has a thick taproot, which makes it difficult to transplant established plants but also makes it drought resistant.
Butterfly weed blossoms add a splash of color to the garden, and it’s a simple milkweed that I enjoy having around. Visit Butterfly Weed for more information, images, seeds, and plants.
Will Asclepias tuberosa bloom the first year?
Milkweed, also known as asclepias, is native to North America, and one of them, Asclepias tuberosa, has been named Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association this year. This plant, sometimes known as butterfly weed or butterfly milkweed, has bright orange flowers that attract a variety of butterflies and bees with nectar and pollen. Butterfly weed’s leaf isn’t a favorite meal of monarch caterpillars, but it can help them survive. This drought-tolerant plant prefers a dry, sunny environment and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
Upright stems with clusters of bright orange flowers contrast attractively with the shiny green leaves of butterfly weed. Unlike other members of the genus, the stem sap is not milky. This milkweed is not invasive since it does not spread by runners like common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Although deer are not attracted to butterfly weed, aphids can be an issue in gardens and greenhouses.
This plant is expected to be in great demand in the next years. Butterfly weed blooms readily the first year after seeding, but there are a few crucial elements to remember if you want to grow it professionally.
This species displays some of the most extreme photoperiod reactions we’ve ever seen. It’s an obligatory long-day plant, which means it has to flower during long days. When grown at an average of 68° F, plants develop quickly under photoperiods of 14 hours or more, and begin flowering about eight to nine weeks after transplant. Plants that are exposed to photoperiods of 12 hours or less, on the other hand, die dormant after a few days (Figure 1, pictured above). Leaves droop, shoot growth appears to stop, and existing flower buds may suffocate (Figure 2). Unfortunately, simply reverting to longer days will not return the plants to active growth. A nine-week or longer cold treatment is required to break this dormancy; in our testing, all dormant plants treated to 41° F for 15 weeks bloomed.
It is critical to provide long days to plants in order to keep them actively growing. We propose at least 16 hours of daylight or four hours of night disruption illumination. A minimum intensity of 2 molm2s1 should be delivered by photoperiodic illumination. Use incandescent lights or LED bulbs intended to control blooming that emit both red and far-red radiation. Maintain these extended photoperiods for plants until natural daylengths reach at least 14 hours.
Butterfly weed has a huge tap root, making transplanting or dividing established plants difficult. It’s critical to utilize a well-drained medium in container production, so consider adding more perlite to a standard peat+perlite mix. During production and cold treatments, be careful not to over-water. The taproot attracts fungus gnat larvae, so keep an eye on the roots if your plants aren’t doing well.
Butterfly weed can grow up to 3 feet tall in the wild, but in container production, our plants were only 12 to 18 inches tall when they first bloomed. Sprays of daminozide (e.g., B-Nine, Dazide), paclobutrazol (e.g., Piccolo, Bonzi), and uniconazole (e.g., Piccolo, Bonzi) are apparently helpful for height management (e.g., Sumagic, Concise). To help fill out containers, use many plugs per pot or squeeze seedlings soon after transplant.