Asclepias Butterfly Weed

Asclepias Butterfly Weed, honored as the Perennial Plant of the Year 2017, offers a spectacular addition to any garden. This exceptional herbaceous perennial captivates with big, vivid orange flowerheads that become a hub of activity for monarch butterflies and other pollinators in midsummer. The plant not only enchants with its blooms but also serves a dual purpose in the garden as both a nectar source for adult butterflies and a host plant for their eggs, fostering a new generation of these majestic creatures.

With its striking foliage, the Asclepias Butterfly Weed continues to dazzle even after its blooming period, bringing lasting beauty to any outdoor space. This resilient plant thrives under full sun, demonstrating remarkable tolerance to heat and drought conditions, ensuring its survival and dependable return each year. It achieves a mature height of about two feet and spreads up to three feet, perfect for planting 12 to 15 inches apart in sunny spots with well-drained soil. Gardeners are advised to plant its crown two to four inches deep, ensuring its flourishing growth.

A member of the dogbane family, Asclepias is known for its unique seed pods, tuberous roots, and distinctive milky sap that courses through its veins, historically known as pleurisy root due to its medicinal properties. This plant's resilience is further highlighted by its late emergence from dormancy in spring, a characteristic that demands patience but rewards with beauty and vitality. Established plants feature extensive taproots, emphasizing the importance of minimal disturbance for thriving growth.

Caring for the Butterfly Weed Asclepias is straightforward, with a preference for dry soil and minimal maintenance requirements. While new plants may benefit from a protective winter mulch, they generally require no special attention, allowing gardeners to enjoy the dynamic spectacle of monarch butterflies amid the plant's orange blossoms throughout the season.