Other common names: Bloodflower, Mexican Milkweed, Milkweed, Pleurisy-root, Canada-root, Indian posy, orange-root, orange swallowwort, tuberroot, whiteroot, windroot.

This is a perennial plant (zones 8-11; self-sowing annual in other areas) is a native to North America which grows 3’-4’ high. Butterfly weed is a trouble-free perennial that will come up year after year in the same place without crowding its neighbors. It is drought tolerant due to it’s long, tuberous tap root (which also makes it difficult to transplant, once established). It gets its name of ‘Butterfly Weed’ because the flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and the leaves are a food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Don’t worry if the caterpillars eat the leaves – that is this plant’s purpose in your garden, to help propagate more butterflies! The plants will survive and send out new leaves throughout the season. The clusters of red flowers topped with yellow crowns form on top of the stems. The slender leaves are 2"-3" long, narrow and pointed. Butterfly weed grows best in full sun, with sandy, well draining soil – perfect for places where more tender flowers will not grow. Flowers give way to prominent, spindle-shaped seed pods (3-6" long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements. Long bloom period from late spring throughout the summer.

Create your own butterfly garden by combining these with Mexican Sunflowers (check my other items!) – you will be amazed at the variety and quantity of butterflies you will attract to your garden with these plants!!