Description
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) lives up to its name as the go‑to snack for Monarch and Queen butterflies, serving up crucial late‑season nectar that helps Monarchs fuel up on their long journey south each year. Unlike other milkweeds, it skips the milky sap but makes up for it with bold clusters of orange‑yellow flowers popping from early summer through early fall. These plants hit about 3 feet tall on slim, branching stems lined with narrow, dark‑green leaves, and later drop skinny pods full of silky seeds.
Native across the central and eastern U.S. (and parts of Canada), this perennial soaks up full sun, handles well‑drained soil (and a bit of drought or deer nibbling), and reliably blooms from May through September.
