| Common Name: |
Butterfly Weed-II |
| Scientific Name: |
Asclepias tuberosa |
| Other Name(s): |
Aka Butterfly Milkweed, Butterflyweed, Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Orange Milkweed, Chiggerflower, Indian Paintbrush |
| Category: |
Herb/Forb |
| Habit: |
Herbaceous perennial |
| Bloom Color: |
Bright orange |
| Bloom Size: |
Features clusters (umbels) of flowers atop upright to reclining, hairy stems |
| Bloom Shape: |
Narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers |
| Bloom Season: |
Late spring throughout the summer |
| Fruit Description: |
Flowers give way to prominent, spindle-shaped seed pods (3-6 in. long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements |
| Foliage Description: |
Narrow, lance-shaped leaves |
| Height of Plant: |
1-2 1/2 ft. |
| Spread of Plant: |
1-1 1/2 ft. |
| Growth Rate: |
Dry to medium |
| Hardiness: |
USDA Zones 3 - 9 |
| Light Requirements: |
Full sun |
| Water Usage: |
Dry to medium |
| Moisture Requirement(s): |
Prefers well-drained sandy soils. Tolerates drought |
| Soil Type: |
Plant in well-drained sand, loam, clay, or limestone |
| Soil pH: |
Adaptable |
| Native Range: |
Eastern and Southern United States |
| Usage: |
Good cut flowers, strong color, long-living. Medicinal uses of root for bronchitis, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds |
| Propagation: |
Root cuttings. Plants are easily grown from seed, but are somewhat slow to establish and may take 2-3 years to produce flowers |
| Maintenance: |
Low |
| Photographer: |
Susan Brown |
| Location: |
N-11 |