Does it need a lot of water?

No, it prefers dry to medium soil and hates being waterlogged.

Will it spread aggressively?

It is a clump forming perennial and does not spread by rhizomes like other milkweeds.

Plant guide

Butterfly weed.

Asclepias tuberosa

Pronounced as-KLEE-pee-as too-ber-OH-suh

Also known as Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly-weed, Canada root, Chieger-flower, Indian posy, Pleurisy-root, butterfly love, butterflybush

butterfly milkweed — Photo by Michael J. Papay (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Butterfly weed is a stunning native perennial that brings vibrant orange color to sunny gardens. It is a magnet for pollinators, especially monarch butterflies. You will love how tough and drought tolerant this plant is once it gets established.

Another photo of Butterfly weed — Photo by Tom Norton (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Early to late summer

Care

Plant this beauty in a spot with excellent drainage to prevent root rot. Watch for aphids on the stems, which are common but usually harmless. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers later in the season.

Watering: Water deeply during the first season, but let the soil dry out completely between waterings once established.
Feeding: This plant rarely needs fertilizer and prefers lean soil conditions.
Pruning: Cut the stems back to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears.
Repotting: It has a deep taproot and does not like being moved, so only repot if absolutely necessary.
Soil: Sandy or rocky well draining soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -30 to 35°C
Humidity: 20 to 60%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 plus years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth during the active season.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested and the sap can cause skin irritation.
Pets: This plant contains cardiac glycosides and is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep children away from the plant to prevent accidental ingestion of the toxic foliage or contact with the irritating sap.
Contact allergens: The milky latex sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant evidence that this plant causes respiratory allergies.
Edibility: The plant contains cardiac glycosides and should not be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

Clusters of bright orange flowers
Narrow lance shaped green leaves
Rough hairy stems
Deep taproot system

Height: 0.3 to 0.9m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: orange, yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: tan, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Milkweed BugsCommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Cut back the dead stems in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. The plant is hardy and does not require special protection.
In containers: It can grow in deep containers, but ensure the pot has excellent drainage to prevent root rot.

Seed

Collect seeds from dried pods in autumn.
Store seeds in a cold place for winter.
Sow seeds in spring after the danger of frost has passed.

Plant in groups of three or more to create a strong visual impact and provide a better landing pad for butterflies.

Grows well with

Purple Coneflower · They share similar sun and water requirements and look beautiful together.
Little Bluestem · This grass provides a nice textural contrast and thrives in the same dry conditions.
Black Eyed Susan · They provide a classic summer color combination that attracts many pollinators.

Similar species

Common Milkweed · It is a taller, more aggressive spreader with fragrant pink flowers.
Swamp Milkweed · It prefers much wetter soil conditions than butterfly weed.

Science

Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Asclepias
Order: Gentianales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern and central North America.
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered, though wild populations should be protected from over-collection.

It thrives in dry, sunny prairies and open fields where its deep taproot allows it to survive periods of drought.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant, nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds
Uses: pollinator garden, meadow planting, cut flowers, xeriscaping

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?: No, it prefers dry to medium soil and hates being waterlogged.
Will it spread aggressively?: It is a clump forming perennial and does not spread by rhizomes like other milkweeds.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, while the species name tuberosa refers to its tuberous root system.

Good to know

It is also known as butterfly weed.
The roots were historically used by indigenous peoples for respiratory ailments.
It does not have the typical milky sap found in other milkweed species.
It is highly drought tolerant once established.
The vibrant orange flowers are a magnet for pollinators.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.