| Common Name | Butterfly Weed |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Species | A. tuberosa |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Life Cycle | Herbaceous Perennial |
| Format | 125-cell plug tray |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant plugs promptly upon arrival. Maintain consistently moist (but not saturated) growing substrate until you can get the plugs into their final growing location. Avoid prolonged soggy conditions to prevent rot - this is a plant that dislikes wet feet. Because Asclepias tuberosa has a strong taproot, do not leave plugs in trays for an extended period of time and do not disturb roots once established. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary - these plants have strong, rugged stems making them very capable of supporting themselves. In areas with high wind you could use a single layer of netting to prevent lodging. |
| Temperature Range | Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9 |
| Spacing | Space plants at minimum 12 inches, up to 24 inches apart to allow for clump expansion and good air movement. |
| Soil Preference | Requires well-drained soils. Prefers dry to medium moisture soils; tolerates poorer, sandy or rocky soils. Does not tolerate waterlogged or heavy, poorly drained soils. |
| Day Length | Long-day plants: flowering occurs in mid summer. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Pinching is not generally required. After the initial bloom, deadheading spent flowers that were not harvested can stimulate a later flush of blooms (about a month later) in most climates. |
| When to Plant | Plant in the spring after the soil has warmed and the threat of a late frost has passed. You can plant all throughout the summer until about 8 weeks before the first frost of the year. |
| Harvesting | Harvest stems when umbels are about half to 2/3 open - aim for partial bloom stage so they continue to open in water. If harvested too early the buds may not open. Harvest in the early morning or late evening when the plant is well hydrated. Asclepias is in the milkweed family and stems will exude sap after cutting - you may need to experiment with sealing the cut ends to help with hydration and proper water uptake. Try searing the ends of the stems with a flame, or harvesting into warm water (not hot enough to seriously scald the stem tissue). |
| Post Harvest Care | Use fresh, clean water with a floral preservative to maximize vase life. Store in a cooler - avoid ethylene exposure. Cut into warm water and then allow the water to come to room temperature before placing the bucket into the cooler. Make sure all leaves that sit below the waterline are removed. |
| Diseases / Insects | Asclepias are known to attract aphids, so keep close watch for these pests. They are pollinator magnets and will attract a whole plethora of insects. They are generally very disease resistant as long as they are in a sunny, well draining spot. |
| Bailey's Notes | A. tuberosa is native to North America and will reseed and spread readily. They are easy to control, simply cut spent flower heads before they go to seed, or pull unwanted seedlings. Don't be surprised to find monarch caterpillars snacking on your plants! These guys are late to grow in the spring - you might think they died over winter but give them some time, they don't usually start to grow until the soil has warmed significantly. |
| Resources | NA |