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Butterfly Milkweed
Photo credit

Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0, Original photo

Care

  • Avoid wet, poorly drained soil.
  • Established plants are best left undisturbed.
  • Optional bloom tip: Removing spent flowers can encourage more blooms.

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Listed for containersIts plant group hosts 13 kinds of caterpillars
Flower color
Orange, yellow or red
Bloom
May to August
Leaves
Deciduous
Height
1–2 feet; sometimes to 3
Spread
1–1½ feet
Light
Part shade to full sun
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Typical bloom time. A plant at the store may not be in flower.

Containers
Yes, listed for containersListed by NC State Extension Plant Toolbox (Landscape Location: Container), Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia: Container Gardening with Native Plants (2025)
Container size
Not recordedMeasure your pot’s depth; we can’t confirm this pot yet.

Native to Virginia (state-specific source)

Full record on Quercus