Asclepias Tuberosa - Butterfly Weed
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Asclepias tuberosa, better known as Butterfly Weed, is a real summer firecracker. Dense clusters of brilliant orange flowers are held above leafy green stems, creating an eye-catching display that looks particularly effective among grasses, prairie-style planting and other sun-loving perennials.
There is plenty going on beyond the colour, too. The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinating insects, making this an excellent addition to wildlife-friendly planting. Its upright, clump-forming habit provides useful structure without looking stiff or formal, while the succession of flower clusters keeps the display going through summer.
Native to North America, this is a natural choice for hot, sunny borders and gravel gardens. Once established, its deep-rooted nature also makes it impressively tolerant of dry conditions, perfect for gardeners looking for something colourful that doesn't demand constant watering.
Supplied in approx. 1 litre containers.
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Grow Asclepias tuberosa in full sun, in well-drained soil. It performs particularly well in lighter, sandy or gravelly ground and dislikes wet, poorly drained conditions, especially during winter. Water regularly while young plants establish, then more sparingly once its substantial root system has developed. Avoid unnecessary disturbance after planting as its deep, fleshy taproot can make established plants difficult to move. Little pruning is required beyond cutting back old stems after they have died down. In colder or wetter UK gardens, choose a warm, sheltered position and ensure excellent winter drainage. New shoots can be relatively late to emerge in spring, so don't be too quick to assume the plant has disappeared.
Butterfly Weed belongs to the milkweed genus, Asclepias, named after Asclepius, the Greek god associated with medicine and healing. It also has an important ecological connection in its native North America: milkweeds are the host plants on which monarch butterfly caterpillars feed. The brilliant flowers meanwhile provide nectar for a much wider range of visiting butterflies and other insects.