What is Asclepias tuberosa?
Apr 11, 2020 · Several species of milkweed, or asclepias, are native to North America, and this year the Perennial Plant Association has chosen one of them as Perennial Plant of the Year: Asclepias tuberosa. This species of milkweed does not spread by runners like common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) does, so it is not invasive.
Where to plant Asclepias tuberosa?
Butterfly weed is a tuberous-rooted, native, herbaceous perennial in the Apocynaceae, or dogbane, family. Its Latin genus name, Asclepias, honors the Greek god of medicine, Asklepios. The species name, tuberosa, refers to the root. The plant is upright, typically growing in clumps 1 to 3 feet tall, and is found in dry, rocky open woods, glades ...
Does Asclepias tuberosa need fertilizer?
May 05, 2022 · There are a number of subspecies of Asclepias tuberosa that grow throughout the eastern half of the U.S., all the way to northern Canada (Kartesz, 1999). View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.
Is Asclepias incarnata invasive?
This species of milkweed does not spread by runners like common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) does, so it is not invasive. Butterfly weed is not attractive to deer; however, aphids can be a problem in garden settings and in the greenhouse.
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Is butterfly weed invasive? Unlike common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) does not have the quickly spreading roots that qualify it as invasive. Is butterfly weed poisonous to humans, dogs, or cats? Butterfly weed is …

Does Asclepias tuberosa spread?
Is Asclepias invasive?
Is Asclepias tuberosa good for monarchs?
What is the least invasive milkweed?
Which milkweed is invasive?
Is blood flower milkweed invasive?
How far apart is Asclepias tuberosa?
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Butterfly Weed Reference Table.
Common Name | Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Chigger-weed |
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Spacing / Width | 1-2' (30-60cm) |
Light Requirements | Full sun |
Will milkweed grow in the shade?
What is Asclepias tuberosa good for?
Where should you not plant milkweed?
Is Lantana the same as milkweed?
What kind of milkweed is best for monarchs?
Asclepias tuberosa
Almost all of Florida’s 24 milkweeds are native, and at least two of them are native only to Florida (endemic). Milkweeds are frequently encountered throughout the state, and the rest of North America. Different species are found in very wet habitats as well as in very dry ones.
Species Overview
Almost all of Florida’s 24 milkweeds are native, and at least two of them are native only to Florida (endemic). Milkweeds are frequently encountered throughout the state, and the rest of North America. Different species are found in very wet habitats as well as in very dry ones.
What is butterfly milkweed?
This species, commonly known as butterfly weed or butterfly milkweed, has vivid orange flowers with nectar and pollen that are attractive to many species of butterflies and bees. The foliage of butterfly weed is not a preferred food but can support monarch caterpillars.
How tall does butterfly weed grow?
The taproot is attractive to fungus gnat larvae, so be vigilant and check the roots if plants lack vigor. In outdoor settings, butterfly weed can reach 3 feet in height, but in container production, our plants were 12 to 18 inches tall at first flowering.
Where is milkweed native to?
Several species of milkweed, or asclepias, are native to North America, and this year the Perennial Plant Association has chosen one of them as Perennial Plant of the Year: Asclepias tuberosa.
What zone is butterfly weed?
This drought-tolerant plant grows best in a dry and sunny location, and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9. Butterfly weed has upright stems with clusters of bright orange flowers that contrast nicely with the shiny green leaves. The stem sap is not milky, unlike others in the genus.
Is butterfly weed hardy?
The foliage of butterfly weed is not a preferred food but can support monarch caterpillars. This drought-tolerant plant grows best in a dry and sunny location, and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9. Butterfly weed has upright stems with clusters of bright orange flowers that contrast nicely with the shiny green leaves.
Is Asclepias tuberosa a perennial?
Asclepias tuberosa is a coarse perennial plant consisting of many stems. The stems are straight and very hairy. The leaves are alternate and simple. Unlike other species of milkweed, tuberosa does not contain the characteristic thick milky sap but instead has a watery translucent sap.
How to propagate asclepias tuberosa?
Propagating Asclepias Tuberosa From Seeds. Soak the asclepias tuberosa seeds in tap water overnight and then after the seeds have soaked, put them in a sealed plastic bag. Refrigerate the bag of seeds for at least two weeks. Get seed tray with drainage holes and fill it with a germinating mix.
Why is orange milkweed called butterfly weed?
It is commonly referred to as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and it’s copious of nectar. At maturity, Asclepias tuberosa reaches ...
What is tuberosa sap?
The leaves are alternate and simple. Unlike other species of milkweed, tuberosa does not contain the characteristic thick milky sap but instead has a watery translucent sap. The inflorescence is slightly rounded to flat and made up many individual flowers.
Does tuberosa have milky sap?
Unlike other species of milkweed, tuberosa does not contain the characteristic thick milky sap but instead has a watery translucent sap. The inflorescence is slightly rounded to flat and made up many individual flowers. The flowers are made up of five petals pointing down and topped by a crown of five erected hoods.
Do Asclepias tuberosa need fertilizer?
Asclepias tuberosa virtually do not require any maintenance once it is established. It does not necessarily require fertilizer during their period of growth as they have ability to tolerate poor soils, including dry and rocky soil.
How to prolong milkweed blooms?
After the first flush of flowers, simply cut off the flower above the topmost leaves on the stem . Removing the dead or wilting flowers prevents seed formation which encourages butterfly weed to produce more a second flush of flowers.
Where does butterfly weed grow?
The species name tuberose refers to the tuberous (knobby and with swellings) roots. Butterfly weed grows commonly in dry open habitats and is very common in the prairies and grasslands of the Midwest and Great Plains.
Can butterfly weed be transplanted?
This wildflower does not transplant well as it has a deep woody taproot. It is easily propagated from seed. Collect the seed from the pods has they just begin to open. Butterfly weed seed need a three-month cold stratification.
What is butterfly weed?
Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae). The genus name Asclepias is named after the Greek god of medicine Asklepios. The species name tuberose refers to the tuberous (knobby and with swellings) roots.
Does milkweed have milky sap?
The leaves are alternate and simple. Unlike other species of mil kweed butterfly weed does not contain the characteristic thick milky sap but instead has a watery translucent sap. The inflorescence is slightly rounded to flat and made up many individual flowers.
How many petals does a milkweed butterfly have?
The inflorescence is slightly rounded to flat and made up many individual flowers. The flower consists of five petals pointing down and topped by a crown of five erect hoods.
What is the name of the plant that is used to treat chest inflammation?
In colonial America, dried leaves of butterfly weed and skunk cabbage were made into a tea to treat chest inflammations thus giving butterfly weed an alternative name: pleurisy root. Pleurisy root was listed in the American Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary until 1936.
How tall does butterfly weed grow?
Also known as Asclepias tuberosa, orange milkweed, pleurisy root, and yellow milkweed, the plant can grow to be anywhere from one to two feet tall and is characterized by glossy green leaves and clusters ...
When does butterfly weed bloom?
Generally, the plant emerges in late spring, hitting its peak bloom during the warmer summer months and drying on the stem throughout the autumn and winter. It also tolerates heat and drought well.
Is butterly weed a native plant?
Beloved for its ability to attract a variety of helpful (and beautiful) insects to the garden, Butterly Weed is an easy-to-nurture varietal that can also be found growing as a native wildflower in a slew of untamed environments, like meadows, prairies, and forests.
Where did butterfly weed originate?
First grown in the prairies of the Midwestern United States, Butterfly Weed boasts a long medicinal history as well—Native Americans used to chew the roots as a remedy for pleurisy and other pulmonary issues, and they can also be brewed into a tea that can then be used to treat diarrhea and other stomach ailments.
