Butterfly weed is a milkweed family member (Asclepiadaceae). The genus Asclepias is named after Asklepios, the Greek deity of medicine. Tuberose refers to the tuberous (knobby and swellinged) roots of the plant. Butterfly weed thrives in dry open areas and is abundant in the Midwest and Great Plains prairies and grasslands. This lovely native wildflower …
Remove the seed pods from the plant and place them in a bag or container. Outside, don’t try to collect butterfly weed seeds. Otherwise, you’ll be chasing them down the street every time the wind blows. Bring the seed pods inside once you’ve gathered them. How long do butterfly weed seeds last? Fill a plastic …
While many butterflies require certain host plants to grow their young (a list of other butterfly host plants may be found here), no butterfly is more important to our collective psyche than the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterfly numbers have plummeted in recent decades, and an increasing number of home gardeners want to help by planting …
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 …
