Asclepias tuberosa
(Butterfly Milkweed)
Common Names and Latin Name
Butterfly weed, chigger flower, orange milkweed, and pleurisy root.
Asclepias tuberosa
Family
It is in the Apocynaceae, or dogbane, family.
Form
Butterfly milkweed is a a perennial wildflower that grows to a height of around three feet. It generally grows upright, but may fall over and grow along the ground.
Leaves
The leaves are alternate and can be linear, oblanceolate or arrowhead-shaped in shape. The margins are entire. Some may have short stems, but most are sessile. The leaves and stems are hairy.
Flowers
The bright orange flowers appear in early summer and fall.
Habitat
Butterfly milkweed grows in pinelands, sandhills, sunny open forests, dry fields and roadsides.
Native Range
Butterfly milkweed is native to the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, and WV.
Landscape Use
In the home landscape it grows in full sun to high shifting shade with average to dry, sandy soil. Keep watered until the plant becomes established. Once established they are drought tolerant and survive on natural rainfall.
Wildlife Uses
The flowers are a source of nectar for many insects and the foliage is a host plant for monarch, soldier and queen butterflies.
Propagation
Can be grown from seed. They do not transplant well and generally do not survive the attempt.