This clump-forming perennial grows two feet tall from tuberous roots with glossy green, lance-shaped leaves.
Butterfly Weed Care
Plant butterfly weed in late spring after the soil warms.
Do not expect it to bloom the first year; flowering may take three years.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Blooms last about two months, from late spring until late summer.A.
tuberosaproduces seed pods that release silky-tailed seeds to disperse on the wind.
Instead, plant milkweed species that arenative in your state.
Danita Delimont / Getty Images
An extensive, deep taproot helps it thrive even in dry conditions.
Mature plants can do well with just monthly watering in all but the driest climates.
It handles high humidity and arid climates equally well, provided it gets adequate soil moisture.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Fertilizer
Butterfly weed is a low-maintenance plant that does not require any additional fertilization.
Doing so can harm the plant, making it excessively leggy and reducing blooms.
Types of Butterfly Weed
There are several named cultivars of this plant.
Most varieties, as well as the native species, are orange.
This is a sign that the plant is entering dormancy for the season.
Pruning Tip
No pruners?
Propagating Butterfly Weed
Propagating butterfly weed from stem cuttings is easily achieved.
If you want to start seed indoors, the seeds need cold stratification.
But you’re free to reliably grow butterfly weed from seed in potting containers.
Butterfly weed will grow easily in a 10 to 12-inch deep pot with ample drainage holes.
It does not need repotting or its soil refreshed.
It thrives in poor soil, returning each year in the spring after emerging from dormancy.
Don’t mulch over the root crowns, as this can promote rot.
Do not use pesticides on milkweed.
How Long Does Butterfly Weed Bloom?
The butterfly weed blooms are long-lasting and make a good cut flower.
They also dry well.
What Do Butterfly Weed Flowers Look and Smell Like?
If you’re struggling to get your butterfly weed to bloom, a few factors could be at play.
It’s essential to get the plant’s watering cadence right.
Additionally, butterfly weed plants should not be fertilized.
While fertilizer may work to make other plants bloom, it can harm butterfly weed and discourage blooming.
Some annual plant combinations include lantana, zinnia, salvia, cosmos, fennel, dill, and sunflowers.
This can be prevented by removing the seed pods before they dry and burst open.
The volunteer plants that appear due to self-seeding should be removed before they establish long tap roots.
Rabbit Damage
Butterfly weed is very attractive to feeding rabbits.
Rodent-repellant granules or sprays can provide some prevention, but metal fencing around the plants is the best solution.
Both are types of milkweed, and both are of great value to butterflies and other pollinators.
Butterfly weed has notable orange flowers, while common milkweed has white or pink to mauve flowers.
Butterfly weed is a critical food source for Monarch butterflies.
Butterfly weed is a mainstay of butterfly gardens.
It is also commonly used in meadow gardens or any landscape design devoted to natural wildflowers.
North Carolina State Extension.
Twelve Native Milkweeds for Monarchs.
North Carolina State Extension.
