Butterfly Milkweed

Common Names

Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root, Butterfly Milkweed, Orange Milkweed, Milkweed, Chigger Flower, Chiggerweed, Indian Paintbrush

Summary

Asclepias tuberosa, commonly called Butterfly Weed, is a native North American perennial forming bushy clumps 1.5–3 feet tall and wide with a deep taproot; leaves are lance-shaped and dark green, and the plant lacks milky sap. In midsummer to early autumn it bears flat clusters of bright orange flowers (often red-orange to yellow) that are nectar-rich and attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, and it serves as a larval host plant for monarchs, queens, and gray hairstreaks.

For cultivation, plant in full sun with well-drained soils; it tolerates dry, sandy or rocky sites and is drought-tolerant once established. It does not transplant well due to the deep taproot; space plants 12–24 inches apart to allow clump expansion, and it may self-seed. Fertilization is light or unnecessary; deer typically leave it alone. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–9 and well-suited to borders, butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, prairie plantings, and native borders, with deadheading able to trigger a second bloom.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial sun or light shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained dry soil, often sandy or loamy.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably dry to medium moisture.

Soil pH

5.8-6.2, Acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Orange

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow to moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Stem cuttings, Root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators