Asclepias tuberosa
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Butterflyweed, Orange Milkweed
Apocynaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Flower | |
| Size: | 1 to 2 ft tall by 0.5 to 1.5 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Short-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Orange | |
| Fruit Color: | Green | |
| Phenology: | Winter dormant | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Wildflower garden, meadow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Can be grown from seed with seed being commercially available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Not wet but not extremely dry ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Not wet but not extremely dry ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Acidic to neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Reported to attract hummingbirds. | |
| Insects: | Attracts butterflies, bees, other insects. Larval host to the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) and soldier butterfly, (Danaus eresimus). Despite its name, this is not the preferred larval host of the monarch. | |
| Native Habitats: | Sandhill, clayhill, scrub, ruderal |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | The species was important medicianally for several Indian tribes. | |
| General Comments: | Sometimes difficult to establish in new areas, but definitely worth the effort. |