Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Attracts butterflies and bees. Grows well in arid soils. Also known as milkweed, butterfly weed, butterfly milkweed, and butterfly-weed. Medicinal: Roots are a respiratory expectorant and diaphoretic. Perennial in Zones 4-9.
Harvest
365d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
12-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Butterfly Weed in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
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Butterfly Weed · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Water: Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County HOA Butterfly Garden in Brunswick County Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Beehive Garden, Wake Co West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Woodland Backyard Garden Walk. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Slow. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Dehiscent 4- to 5-inch, spindle-shaped follicle seed pods release silky-tailed seeds, which are dispersed by wind. Displays from August to September
Color: Gray/Silver, Green. Type: Capsule, Follicle. Length: > 3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Good Dried, Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern and southern United States
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Rabbits, Salt
- +Attracts: This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
- +Wildlife value: The flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and insect pollinators. The plant is a larval host plant for monarch (which appear in the spring and summer and may have one to three broods in the north and four to six broods in the south), gray hairstreak, queen, and milkweed tussock moth caterpillars.
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -Toxic (Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Roots, Sap/Juice, Stems): Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Purple Coneflower
Shares similar growing conditions and attracts complementary pollinators, extending bloom season
Black-Eyed Susan
Similar drought tolerance and soil requirements, creates attractive color contrast and supports diverse pollinators
Little Bluestem Grass
Provides structural support and wind protection while sharing similar native prairie conditions
Wild Bergamot
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, has similar water and soil requirements
Goldenrod
Blooms later in season extending pollinator resources, thrives in similar dry conditions
Prairie Dropseed
Native grass companion that provides natural mulching and erosion control without competing for nutrients
Yarrow
Attracts beneficial predatory insects that control pests, tolerates similar dry conditions
Wild Lupine
Fixes nitrogen in soil benefiting nearby plants, attracts different pollinator species
Keep Apart
Crown Vetch
Aggressive spreader that can outcompete and smother native wildflowers
Autumn Olive
Invasive shrub that creates shade and competes for water and nutrients
Tall Fescue
Non-native grass that forms dense clumps and releases allelopathic compounds inhibiting wildflower growth
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Very disease resistant, adapted to harsh conditions
Common Pests
Aphids (beneficial as they don't seriously harm plant and attract predators), milkweed bugs
Diseases
Rarely affected by diseases in well-drained soils