In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the milkweed butterfly. Slow growing and longlived, sturdy, foliage clumps combine well with finer textured, mounded plants such as catmint, blue oat grass, fountain grass, or thread leaf coreopsis. Butterfly weed grows wild in a variety of environments, including open woods, prairies, dry fields, meadows, and along roadsides. For contrast, plant it with grayleaved globe thistle or ornamental mullein. Seeds and plants of selected cultivars are available from many nurseries. Liatris liatris spicata, hoary mountain mint pycnanthemum incanum and joepye weed eutrochium fistulosom. Butterfly milkweed root was also chewed and placed. From a butterfly weed plant milkweed that i gathered from my own plants last year. There are, of course, many regional species of milkweed as well. Lady bird johnson wildflower center the university of texas. Aphids can also be removed by blasting the plant with a high pressure stream of water. Dont spray to kill them or youll not have any beautiful butterflies.
Butterfly milkweed, orange milkweed, pleurisy root plant type. Milkweed is a lovely wildflower and the sole host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Milkweed, butterfly weed, asclepias plants american meadows. Find joe pye weed plants and seeds on joyful butterfly. Starter plants are not large enough to feed larvae. Butterfly milkweed root was also chewed and placed on wounds, or dried, pulverized, and blown into wounds. Butterfly weed has an interesting and unusual flower structure. Is it at all like milkweed to attract monarch butterflies. Butterfly weed plants spread by way of seeds, which are released from large pods in early autumn. Butterfly weed is one of those plants that is an absolute must if you are trying to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects to your garden. How to plant butterfly weed seeds home guides sf gate.
While there are several species of milkweed, there are two that are commonly found for sale as butterfly garden plants. Learn more about milkweed, the only host plant for monarchs. North american native butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa has been named the perennial plant associations 2017 plant of year. So much so that it was voted the 2017 perennial plant of the year by the perennial plant association. Wait for the butterfly weed to start growing in the springtime. This droughttolerant sun lover is a favorite for butterfly gardens, naturalized areas and sunny borders. Plants profile for asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed. Butterfly weed is such a plant for a picture of butterfly weed, see the photo above. Winner of a 2017 national outdoor book award in nature and. Many native larval plants such as ironweed and joepye weed attain great heights and may be more suited to a naturalized area of your garden. This works best with asclepias curassavica tropical milkweed but milkweed growers have also reported success rooting butterfly weed, swan milkweed, and the calotropis milkweed varieties. Seeds benefit from being chilled for 4 weeks in the refrigerator before being planted. Butterfly weed plants can withstand damage from the monarch butterfly caterpillars. This special selection of the wildflower orange butterfly weed is unique in its ability to grow in heavier soils including clay.
Butterfly weed seed need a threemonth cold stratification. Four species of native milkweed are found in most states. The omaha tribe used butterfly milkweed medicine for rites belonging to the shell society. Besides being a beautiful, ornamental perennial that can be. Are you growing a garden and wish to attract more butterflies. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa identify that plant. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed high country.
The top 25 butterfly garden plants article by plant. Milkweed plants for sale asclepias butterfly weed high. Butterfly weed botanical name asclepias tuberosa hardiness zones 4 to 9 height 18 to 36 inches width 12 to 24 inches flowers late spring thru late summer. Therefore, it is best to plant the seed in autumn and they will easily germinate the following spring. Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named. Milkweed and butterfly weed plants, both members of the asclepias family, are the sole food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. This list does not contain all varieties of milkweed, just the best kinds of milkweed to support monarchs in your region. Developed from a native north american wildflower, this is an important source of food for monarch butterflies. You can create butterfly friendly habitat by providing food nectar plants, cover, water, and larval plants. Colonies of yelloworange oleander aphids aphis nerii, also known as milkweed aphids, envelop the plants stems and leaves as they feed on sap. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar.
A widely distributed north american native plant, butterfly weed is one of the brightest meadow wildflowers. Learn more about monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. Sep 21, 2017 common milkweed and butterfly weed are two species of milkweed that have much in common. Nov 11, 2019 the butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a member of the milkweed family. As the butterfly struggles to pull free, it dusts itself with pollen. Use it in butterfly gardens, as well as the middle or back of the border. Jun 18, 2018 butterfly bush is an invasive plant, meaning it crowds out beneficial plants that have naturally grown in your community for centuries. How to create butterfly habitat only a small amount of space is needed to provide butterfly habitat. Native plants are easytogrow and butterfly weed is one of the easiest that like to be planted in late summer and fall and require minimum of care. Planting milkweed asclepias is essential to creating a habitat for the beloved monarch butterfly s survival, as they are the only plants on which monarch caterpillars will feed. This species originally from asia readily takes over space. Sep 21, 2017 butterfly weed is a perennial wildflower native to north america. This special selection of the wildflower orange butterfly weed is. Some differences in features exist in the two types of milkweed.
Butterfly weed combines brilliant beauty, hardiness, and is beloved by pollinators. It is important to keep in mind that there are probably no plants that are 100% deerproof. Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed burpee seeds and plants. Milkweed university of florida, institute of food and. Since butterfly weed can have loud, hot flower colors, pair it in the garden with complimentary colored perennials, such as russian sage, coneflowers and ornamental grasses. In the garden, butterfly weed looks great in wildflower meadows, borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Butterfly milkweed increases by underground shoots and can be invasive. Butterfly weed, a type of milkweed, is a favorite nectar plant for butterflies, and the leaves are eaten by monarch caterpillars. These are going in the fridge, wrapped in a moist not damp papers towels. Forms an upright clump of narrow green leaves, bearing showy clusters flowers in mid to late summer in. Plant it to support monarch butterfly caterpillars in u.
Cinderella swamp milkweed asclepias incarnata american. Monarch caterpillars do not favor butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa because the leaves. Monarchs and milkweed and millions of other books are available for. Purchase of one unit will include one type of plant. Information on the butterfly weed plant home guides sf gate. Butterfly asclepias will produce beautiful clusters of orange flowers. Butterfly weed plants are easy to grow by seed, but may not produce blooms for two or three years. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Create new plants with stem cuttings from your container plants. Butterfly weed s long taproots protect the plant through long dry spells, but they also mean the plant resents transplanting. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed is a food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars and very attractive to many varieties of butterflies. Growing different milkweed plants gardening know how.
The omahas and poncas ate the raw root of the butterfly milkweed for bronchial and pulmonary troubles. Butterfly weed is great for attracting butterflies, insects, and even hummingbirds. The plant, suitable for growing in usda plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, thrives in bright sunlight and poor, dry, sandy or gravelly soil with a slightly acidic or neutral ph. Milkweeds are the required host plants for caterpillars of the monarch butterfly. Buy it as butterfly plant, grow it as butterfly weed before listing the plants that are effective for attracting adult butterflies with their nectar page 3, as well as those plants sought as hosts by their larvae, or caterpillars page 2, id like. Information on the butterfly weed plant home guides sf. See other plant of the week asclepias species monarch butterfly. A migrating butterfly, a poisonous plant, and their. Butterfly weed plants can grow up to 3 feet in height and produce their famous flowers. Botanically known as asclepias tuberosa, it has a few common names. Deerresistant butterfly plants this list of butterfly nectar and host plants, currently fairly general, has been gathered from several sources. Butterfly weed does not transplant well due to its deep taproot, and is probably best left undisturbed once established.
Butterfly weed is a perennial wildflower native to north america. Plants profile asclepias tuberosa, butterfly milkweed. Growing butterfly weed requires very little effort. Swamp milkweed eventually matures to forms clumps up to 36 across. This plant grows throughout north america in dry, sunny locations. Butterfly garden advice from lewis ginter botanical garden. Contrary to the plants name, it is not considered a noxious weed, but is valued for the deep orange, red and yellow flowers which attract monarch butterflies.
Asclepias tuberosa is a native of midwest prairies and a favorite garden plant for its ability to attract butterflies with profusion of bright orange flowers. Mature plants may freely selfseed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a type of milkweed that is commonly grown in the garden. Asclepias tuberosa, the butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern north america. Provide the plant a permanent location with poor to averagely fertile. Monarchs arent the only orange insects to find butterfly weed irresistible. They excrete massive amounts of clear, gooey waste called honeydew. Asclepias tuberosa orange butterfly weed high country gardens. No butterfly garden should be without butterfly weed, especially if you want to help protect the endangered monarch butterfly. Choose a spot on your property that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. In fact, milkweed is the only plant material monarch caterpillars can eat. Milkweed plants are the monarch butterflys only host plant.
The butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a member of the milkweed family. Native plant butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa for the garden. Many native larval plants such as ironweed and joepye weed attain great heights and may be. How to grow milkweed for monarch butterflies garden design. Sow seeds indoors 68 weeks before last spring frost date using a seed. Finally, while butterfly larvae pose little threat to most vegetables and ornamentals, it is a good idea to locate larval plants in an out of the way area of your landscape. Plant variegated tropical milkweed in your yard to attract butterflies and enjoy watching the butterfly life cycle. Prepare your soil by clearing the area of all existing growth.
What is a butterfly weed how to grow butterfly weed in. You can plant them closer and then thin the plants as they grow in, or, plant swamp milkweed and its cultivars between 30 and 36 apart. One of our showiest native wildflowers, butterfly weed is also a favorite of gardeners. With monarch butterfly populations having dropped more than 90% in the last twenty years because of a loss of host plants, growing different milkweed plants is very important for future of monarchs.
Protect and enhance your landscape by providing a natural finished look with this onlineplantcenter butterfly weed plant. In fact it is a very well behaved plant in the butterfly garden. Variegated tropical milkweed asclepias curassavica. In midsummer, female monarch butterflies visit milkweed to drink its nectar and lay. Butterfly weed is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae caterpillars, including monarch butterfly danaus plexippus, queen danaus gilippus, and gray hairstreak strymon melinus. Amazons choice for milkweed plants seed needs, pink swamp milkweed seeds for planting asclepias incarnata twin pack of 100 seeds each untreated 4.
Outsidepride mexican butterfly weed plant flower seeds 5000 seeds. Perennial plant association plant of the year 2017. Plant butterfly weed in a perennial garden close to where you can view the butterflies from a window or deck. Butterfly weed, whorled milkweed, and common milkweed should all be spaced about 18 apart. Make sure the plants are well watered, but not overwatered. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed has pretty yellow or orange flowers while tropical milkweed comes in orangeyellow, silky red or silky gold. Gay butterflies mix has plants in colors of red, orange and yellow. Grow milkweed plants in your garden for colorful, fragrant and nectarrich flowers that attract pollinators of all sorts. The common milkweed plant asclepias syriaca is a rough, weedy plant, but it has fragrant flowers and attracts butterflies, especially the monarch. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa, swamp milkweed asclepias incarnata are considered the best varieties for an ornamental garden. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. It will spread in clumps but unlike some milkweeds it is not aggressive through underground rhizomes. Starting a monarch butterfly garden is an exciting journey that will make your garden flutter with joy while supporting the struggling monarch population and other precious pollinators. Butterfly weed does not have milky sap like other milkweeds.
Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa is a perennial native with orange or yellow flowers that appear in late summer and early fall. Plants will vary by location based on best of season, size and readiness. Butterfly weed plants can grow up to 3 feet in height and produce their famous flowers in spring through early fall. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa, swamp milkweed asclepias incarnata are considered the. For caterpillars, consider plants like violets, milkweed, and asters. Butterfly weed asclepias tuberosa native butterfly host plant. Below is a list of different types of milkweed and their native regions. Modern pioneer from a butterfly weed plant milkweed. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. They will thrive in a wide range of garden and meadow. Butterfly weed ascelpias tuberosa displays beautiful orange flowers during summer months. Plant profile for asclepias tuberosa gay butterflies. Both will attract butterflies to your property, with these plants the main magnet for the orange and black monarch butterfly in particular. This tough perennial helps out monarchs, and the flowers are a great nectar source for many other pollinators.
Asclepias tuberosa butterflyweed native plants of north america. The flower color ranges from a strong redorange through orange and toward a milder yelloworange. Learn how to plant milkweed, get care tips and recommendations for which types to grow. As the main food source for the beloved monarch butterfly caterpillar, milkweed has seen a huge resurgence in popularity as of late. And like the orangeflowered butterfly weed, this one is a monarch magnet, great for butterfly gardens. Milkweed plants are the host plants for monarch butterflies, but milkweed is also a highly sought nectar source for many other butterfly species as well as hummingbirds and many beneficial insects. Fragrant clusters of flowers are a magnet for butterflies and pollinators. This rugged plant thrives in dry soil to welldrained loam. Below is an excerpt from my book, the indiana getting started garden guide, which will give you an idea on how to plant and grow your very own butterfly weed.
After spreading the seed, we recommend compressing the seed into the soil. Here are seven milkweed container gardening ideas for your butterfly garden. Butterfly bushes 3 reasons to never plant a butterfly bush. Since many milkweed species serve as host plant for caterpillars and nectar source for butterflies, milkweeds also make good companion plants foreach other. Common milkweed asclepias syriaca swamp milkweed a. When the roots of the butterfly milkweed were more commonly harvested for their medicinal use, the plants were dug when dormant in the late fall. Butterfly weed can be either planted outside in autumn, or. Plants are easily grown from seed, but are somewhat slow to establish and may take 23 years to produce flowers. Planting a block of milkweed is the easiest way to help rebound the plummeting population of this beloved butterfly, but you might choose to plant it based on looks alone.
Reduce the risk of crown rot by setting the butterfly weed in a planting hole with its crown slightly above the soil line. Contrary to the plant s name, it is not considered a noxious weed, but is valued for the deep orange, red and yellow flowers which attract monarch butterflies. Because its tough root was chewed by the indians as a cure for pleurisy and other pulmonary ailments, butterfly weed was. Because of its deep taproot, dividing is not recommended.
The plants database includes the following 3 subspecies of asclepias tuberosa. Feb 07, 2020 sow the seeds into the soil where you dug. Mix the wildflower seeds with sand for better visibility. The milkweed family of north american plants is named asclepias after asclepias, the famous greek god of medicine, since the plants have long been used in herbal medicine.
463 755 1275 38 1410 986 207 314 182 280 445 877 886 683 1213 995 129 77 1440 901 387 519 630 958 1145 629 314 1091 1148 703