Butterflyweed
Butterflyweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as “Butterflyweed,” is a long-lived perennial milkweed and one of 26 species of milkweeds native to Oklahoma. As with all milkweeds, it is a larval host plant for the Monarch Butterfly and a valuable source of nectar and pollen for many other pollinators. This bushy milkweed is enjoyed for its flat-topped bright orange blooms that cover the plant from May through September before developing an elongated seed pod. Typically growing no more than 2 feet tall and wide, Butterflyweed prefers full sun and well drained soils, and is often found in prairies, meadows, open woodlands and roadsides. It is easily grown by seed and does not spread by rhizomes as other milkweeds are known to do. Aphids are a common pest but because this plant feeds caterpillars, insecticides are not recommended.
Caution: All milkweeds contain glycosides in their sap. These glycosides can be poisonous to animals and humans if ingested, and the sap can irritate skin and mucous membranes. Use caution when handling and choosing this plant for your landscape.
Photo Credit: David Hillock Oklahoma State University
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