Asclepias tuberosa

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Common name: butterfly-weed, orange milkweed, butterfly milkweed

Family: Asclepiadaceae (asclepias family)

Synonym: Asclepias decumbens

Distribution: North America and Mexico

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: 12-30" tall x 12-18" wide. The foliage of this gorgeous Ohio native plant is a critical food source for Monarch butterfly larvae, and the vividly orange flowers provide nectar for many other butterfly species as well. Blooms June through August. Flowers give way to long, prominent seed pods which split open when ripe releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements. This tap-rooted plant prefers not to be transplanted once it is established.

Links: Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy) • The Plant List • USDA PLANTS Database - US Department of Agriculture

1: Bioswale Bed (BIOSWA) • Accession: D2013-0447 • Origin: United States of America • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
2: ED069 • Accession: D2023-0212 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
3: ED187 • Accession: D2021-0170 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
4: HGT001 • Accession: D2021-0170 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
5: HGT002 • Accession: D2021-0170 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
6: HGT003 • Accession: D2021-0170 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
7: HGT004 • Accession: D2021-0170 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
8: Native Plant Display Garden (VVW) (NPDG) • Accession: D2021-0137 • Provenance: Wild of Known Origin
9: Native Plant Display Garden (VVW) (NPDG) • Accession: D2021-0278 • Origin: United States of America • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
10: Native Plant Display Garden (VVW) (NPDG) • Accession: D2021-0447 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
11: Phenology Garden Bed East (PHEN E) • Accession: D2010-0354 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin

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Taxon

Asclepias tuberosa

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