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Marcus, Joseph A. (Austin, TX)
Asclepias tuberosa L.
Butterfly weed, Butterfly milkweed, Orange milkweed
USDA Symbol: ASTU
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
This bushy, 1 1/2-2 ft. perennial is prized for its large, flat-topped clusters of bright-orange flowers. The leaves are mostly alternate, 1 1/2–2 1/4 inches long, pointed, and smooth on the edge. The yellow-orange to bright orange flower clusters, 2–5 inches across, are at the top of the flowering stem. The abundance of stiff, lance-shaped foliage provides a dark-green backdrop for the showy flower heads.
This showy plant is frequently grown from seed in home gardens. Its brilliant flowers attract butterflies. Because its tough root was chewed by the Indians as a cure for pleurisy and other pulmonary ailments, Butterfly Weed was given its other common name, Pleurisy Root. Although it is sometimes called Orange Milkweed, this species has no milky sap.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Leaf Retention: Deciduous Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Fruit Type: Legume Size Notes: 1-1.5 feet
Leaf Color: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AL , AZ , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: NB ,
NL ,
NS ,
ON ,
QC Native Distribution: Ontario to Newfoundland; New England south to Florida; west to Texas; north through Colorado to Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Grows in prairies, open woods, canyons, and hillsides throughout most of the state, common in eastern two thirds of Texas, uncommon in the Hill Country. Plant in well-drained sand, loam, clay, or limestone.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Prefers well-drained sandy soils. Tolerates drought.
Conditions Comments: Butterfly
weed has an interesting and unusual flower structure. Plant it among other mid-sized perennials. Inevitably butterfly
weed will get aphids; you can leave them for ladybugs to eat or spray the insects and foliage with soapy water. Aphids can also be removed by blasting the plant with a high pressure stream of water.
texas comments: Butterfly
weed has an interesting and unusual flower structure. Plant it among other mid-sized perennials or a short meadow. Inevitably butterfly
weed will get aphids; you can leave them for ladybugs to eat or spray the insects and foliage with soapy water. Aphids can also be removed by blasting the plant with a high pressure stream of water.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Butterfly
weed makes a delightful cut flower. Strong color, Blooms ornamental, Showy, Long-living,
Perennial garden.
Use Medicinal: Its tough root was chewed by First Nations People as a cure for pleurisy and other pulmonary ailments explaining its other common name, pleurisy root. (Niering)
Fresh root chewed for bronchitis and other respiratory complaints. Tea of root for diarrhea.
Use Other: This showy plant is frequently grown from seed in home gardens.
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Roots, plant
sap from all parts. Not edible. Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Symptoms include vomiting, stupor, weakness, spasms. Toxic Principle: Resinoid, cardiac glycoside. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Grey Hairstreak, Monarch, Queens
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Asclepias tuberosa is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Propagation
Propagation Material: Seeds , Root Cuttings
Description: The easiest method of propagation is root cuttings. In the fall, cut the
taproot into 2-inch sections and plant each section vertically, keeping the area moist.
Seed Collection: Watch plants closely for seedpods in late summer/early fall. Allow seeds to completely mature before collecting seed to establish new plants in another location. A long
pod is produced containing hundreds of seeds with tufts of long, silky hairs (an adaptation for wind dispersal).
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Needs to be transplanted carefully and requires good drainage. It takes 2 – 3 years before A. tuberosa produces its vibrant flowers, which appear in 2 – 3 inch clusters of orangish-red. Once established, it lasts for years, becoming thicker each year.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Question: I am looking for a hardy evergreen hedge for privacy in Northern Michigan. I have sandy soil. Also am interested in planting a drought garden with mostly sun in same sandy soil.
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Question: What are suggestions for plants to plant around utilities boxes (3 of them clustered together) to effectively camouflage them but be attractive. We will outline a larger area in brick, plant evergreens behind the boxes and something in front. Looking for a couple perennials and an alternative to ornamental grass?
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Question: I am a teacher in San Augustine, Texas (which is in the Eastern Pineywoods region). I have started an outdoor classroom/schoolyard habitat at our school. We are in the process of planning our plant selection and I am overwhelmed. I need to have several raised beds with themes but I am trying to stay native (for NWF and TPW certification) as well as please my administration by having a very pretty garden. I have several lists of native plants but I am struggling with knowing what will satisfy my requirements of type as well as my administrations requirements of beauty. My two largest beds will be the following (all beds will have purchased landscapers mix for soil and will be irrigated by drip lines):
butterfly/hummingbird garden (20' x 40')(which I am going to try and get certified as a monarch waystation. (monarchwatch.org)
east texas native bed (20' x 65')
Any help that you could pass my way would be greatly appreciated.
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Question: I recently bought a house in a new subdivision just south of Houston -
as with most new developments, the area is devoid of nature for the
most part... I have planted many bird/butterfly/bee friendly plants
in the backyard and instead of having a traditional lawn, I would like
to create a meadow. I have been looking at the Wildflower Center's
selection of native seeds, but I'm not sure where to start. Can you
help me choose some native grasses and wildflowers that might do well
in the wet clay soil? I am a big fan of insects and birds and want to
make my yard into a refuge for them. Thank you for your help!
click here to view the full question and answer
Question: I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
on Saturday April 21. What a beautiful place. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I was
wondering how I could find out what are the native wildflowers of Northern Indiana.
I live in Warsaw, IN. It is 3 hours north of Indianapolis between South Bend and
Fort Wayne. I have a lovely home in the country with all the wildlife and all the space
that I need. I just planted 10 flowering trees and I have flower beds of the flowers I
enjoy. The soil is very sandy but would like to know the wildflowers that are indigenous
to Northern Indiana.
Thanks for any assistance that you can provide.
click here to view the full question and answer
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store
Bibliography
A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
A Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Edible wild plants of the prairie :
an ethnobotanical guide (1987) Kindscher, K.
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G.O.
McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
* Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, G.
* Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
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Metadata
Record Modified: 2008-10-31
Research By: TWC Staff, RLU
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