Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Asclepias tuberosa visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Asclepias tuberosa - ByJim Wohl

Cultivation Information Butterfly Weed

Pronounced - ass-KLEP_ee-ass
Height - 1 to 2 ftFlower Color - OrangeBlooms - June - SeptemberSun - Sun PerennialHardy Zone - 3 to 9Soil - Well Drained, Never SoggypH - 4.5 to 5.5
Family -Asclepidaceae Over the Years - Butterfly Milkweed does best in a sunny, well-drained location. Over watering weakens this native perennial. Note, this is not to be confused with Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii), which is not native to our region.
Seed Provenance Asclepias tuberosa
Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN - 2011 - Nodding Onion Gardens - 2012 - present - Roger Dahlin Baldwinsville, NY 2013 - 2014 - Suzy Rafferty, Fairview Park, Ohio, 2014
Monarch Butterfly gracefully perched on Butterfly Weed

Wildlife Significance Butterfly Weed


Nectar - Milkweed flowers are a favorite of numerous butterflies: Hairstreaks, Fritillary, Monarchs as well as wasps, flies, hummingbirds, long and short -tongued bees.
Host Plant - Monarch Butterfly caterpillars Deer are not fond of this plant For more details on this plant. visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Understanding Milkweed Plants

A Guide to the Milkweeds of Ohio - Natural Treasures oh Ohio
Butterfly Weed Pods on the far Left
Propagation Notes Butterfly Weed
Stratifying Seeds
1. Zip lock plastic bag2. Few tablespoons of Vermiculite3. Dampen vermiculite - not soggy4. Store in refrigerator for 30 days Collect Seeds - Harvest seed in fall when pods become brown and begin to crack open. Secure pod with a rubber band to prevent seed floating away.
Soaking method -soak seeds for 36 hours then sow as usual. Soaking method works well for Butterfly Weed
Ohio Department of Agriculture Nursery Inspection 2010 - 2023
© 2023 Nodding Onion Gardens, LLCColumbia Station, Ohio 44028I