Asclepias tuberosa

RHS Plant Profile
butterfly weed

Other common names

butterfly flower, butterfly root, chieger flower, flux root, Indian paintbrush, Indian potato, pleurisy root, swallow root, tuber root, white root, wind root, windward root, orange root

Bedding Conservatory Greenhouse

A tuberous, hairy perennial with cymes of orange-red, sometimes orange or yellow flowers, from midsummer to early autumn, followed by fruit

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Apocynaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
Asclepias can be evergreen or deciduous perennials or subshrubs, with simple, entire leaves and umbel-like clusters of small, distinctively shaped flowers followed by paired fruits containing seeds embedded in silky fibres
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
North America, Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in fertile well-drained loamy soil in full sun. Attractive to bees and ideal for a border or wildflower garden

Propagation

Propagate by seed, propagate by division or root basal cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Sub-tropical
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free