Butterflyweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), also known as butterflyweed, has tiny orange flowers with five petals that bloom in early summer. Above, butterfly milkweed blooms at a home garden in Annapolis, Md., on July 24, 2016. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
A common eastern bumble bee visits butterfly milkweed growing at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay offices in Annapolis, Md., on June 16, 2017. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), also known as butterflyweed, blooms at a home garden in Annapolis, Md., on July 24, 2016. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Butterflyweed attracts many butterflies, which use the plant as a source of nectar and a place to lay eggs. Above, an eastern black swallowtail butterfly (which does not lay eggs on butterflyweed) feeds on butterflyweed nectar at a backyard garden in Annapolis, Md., on July 24, 2016. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The seeds of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), also known as butterflyweed, have fluffy white hairs that help them scatter in the wind. Above, butterfly milkweed seeds and seed pods are arranged in a still life on Feb. 4, 2017. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Butterflyweed, also known as butterfly flower or butterfly milkweed, is a native perennial plant with clusters of tiny, five-petaled orange flowers. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
Appearance
Butterflyweed has clusters of tiny, five-petaled orange, reddish-orange or yellowish-orange flowers, which bloom in May to July. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Seed pods develop in late summer. Seeds have fluffy white hairs, which help them scatter in the wind. New seedlings grow in spring.
Did You Know?
- Butterflyweed is also known as butterfly flower and butterfly milkweed. It provides habitat for butterfly eggs and larvae.
- Its bright coloring and copious nectar production attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Native Americans used butterflyweed for fiber to make rope and cloth, as well as for medicinal purposes.
Sources and Additional Information
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- PLANTS Profile for Asclepias tuberosa – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Asclepias tuberosa – The University of Texas at Austin
- PlantFiles: Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly Weed – Dave’s Garden
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Size
1 to 3 feet tall
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Habitat
Fields, meadows, roadsides and other dry, open areas; grows in full or partial sun
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Range
Grows throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Status
Stable
