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flowerPerennial
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Also known as: orange milkweed, pleurisy root
Native milkweed with bright orange flower clusters. Essential monarch butterfly host plant. Deep taproot makes it drought tolerant.
Growing Requirements
SunFull Sun
WaterLow
Soil Type
Soil Drainage
Soil pH
Plant Spacing12–18″
Row Spacing18–24″
Planting Depth0.25″
Height18–36″
Spread12–18″
✓ Container Friendly✓ Raised Bed Friendly
Planting Schedule
Start Indoors
6–8 weeks before last frost
Direct Sow (Spring)
0–9 weeks after last frost
Transplant Outdoors
1–9 weeks after last frost
Fall Sow
6–8 weeks before first frost
Germination
21–28 days
Days to Harvest
365–425 days
Zone Suitability
USDA Hardiness Zones
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Zones 3–9
Can overwinter in appropriate zones
Perennial in zones 3–9
Seeds need cold stratification — refrigerate 4 weeks or fall sow. Deep taproot — do not transplant once established. Late to emerge in spring.
Companion Plants
No companion data available for this plant yet.