Bright orange, flat-topped flower clusters June through July. Plants bloom for many weeks. Host plant for the monarch butterfly and a great nectar source for many other butterflies and pollinators.Part of our Monarch Cafe plant tag series.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennials
Native Environment: Prairie
Season of Interest: Mid (May - June), Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Red
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Dry
Nature Attracting
Butterfly, Hummingbird, Pollinators/Beneficial Insects
Wildlife Benefit
Butterfly / Moth Host, Butterfly / Moth Nectar
Animal
Resistance
Deer Resistant
Size
Height:
18 to
24
inches
Spread:
18 to
24
inches
Size
Height: 18 to
24
inches
Spread: 18 to
24
inches
Size
Height: 18 to
24
inches
Spread: 18 to
24
inches
Typical Landscape Use
An excellent garden plant and a great addition to a native plant garden, naturalized area, prairie or wildflower meadow. An essential plant for attracting butterflies.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Grow in full sun in well-drained soil. Plants have deep tap roots and are slow to emerge in the spring. Foliage may become bare from caterpillar feeding.
Special Features
Special Usage
Dried Flower, Fresh Cut Flower
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
Picked out your plants? View our Resource Guide of garden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more!
Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.