Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a tuberous rooted, native perennial that is moderately salt tolerant. Unlike many of the other milkweeds, this species does not have milky-sapped stems.

Butterfly weed is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It is drought tolerant and does well in poor, dry soils. New growth tends to emerge late in the spring so mark the area well. Grow the plants easily from seed, but expect that it will take 2-3 years to establish and produce flowers. Mature plants may freely self-seed in the landscape if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open. Butterfly weed does not transplant well due to its deep taproot and is probably best left undisturbed once established. Butterfly weed is a rather short plant, growing to a height of 1 to 2 feet.

The flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and insect pollinators. The plant is a larval host plant for monarch, gray hairstreak, queen, and milkweed tussock moth caterpillars. Adult Monarch butterflies feed on nectar from all species of milkweeds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will visit the flowers for nectar.

Coming at the end of June.