Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Bloom time: June - August
Bloom Color: Orange
Height: 2 ft
Sun exposure: Full/Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium - Dry
Deer resistant: Yes
Other Common Names: Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Chigger flower
Fun facts:
This is an essential plant for the monarch’s life cycle, providing nectar for adult butterflies and leaves for monarch caterpillars, which feed exclusively on milkweed species. It’s an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
In addition to providing nectar and food for butterflies, the plant’s seed pods, which appear in late summer to fall, are a valuable food source for birds. Once the pods open, their silky fibers and seeds are often eaten by birds like goldfinches, which use the fluffy fibers to line their nests as well.
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