Asclepias Species, Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa)

by Gabrielle Jul 3, 2008 3:09 AM

June 25, 2008

5-2008--Farmer John's Greenhouse, Farmington Hills, MI

My Yard, July, 2010--growing happily along the pond edge

Very fun color. Wonderful addition for a sharp color spot :) Blue pot with orange flowers, stand out!

My Yard, July, 2010--growing happily along the pond edge

My patch in my backyard in late June of 2009; I only planted one there in 2002

My patch in bloom in late June of 2011 in my prairie garden

06-07-12

Taken at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA, June 27, 2003

One in which an ant is enjoying the flowers

My Yard, June, 2010

Seeds from the Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa and the pod with a penny for size reference, scanned at 300 DPI.

Seedlings of Asclepias tuberosa

Closeup Butterfly Weed

Deadhead to keep it blooming all summer into frost.

Good xeric plant

Texas native wildflower. Found this specimen growing in a large pasture where nothing else was growing.

One of the only true orange Texas native wildflowers.

This orangish-yellow Butterfly Weed is a prolific self-seeder!

Butterfly Weed in Arizona, USA, July 1998

Monarch Larvae on Milkweed

Monarch cat on milkweed

This perennial herb is an endangered one and is also known as "Pleurisy Root"

Butterfly Milkweed, at Fort Worth Botanic garden.

I have grownthis deep orange one for four years and it is a real butterfly attractor.

On a rural roadside near Brooksville, FL - early September 2005

Butterfly Weed seed pod just opened .. preparing to release its seed.

Butterfly Weed seeds attached by multiple silky strands, to 'catch' the air & fly to other destinations.

Seed pods look like canoes on end. Here the ripe pods release their bounty.

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Caterpillars (Monarchs butterfly) absolutely love the leaves of butterfly weed.

Grew this from seed a few years ago but this is the first year it has produced this many flowers, wonder if it is the wet spring and summer?

unknown insects visiting plant, herb garden, national arboretum, zone 7, 23July2006

Flower buds forming. This plant is from one of my first-ever seed trades way back in 2000.

Asclepias tuberosa seedlings

Transplant seedlings early to prevent damage to long taproot.

Seeds - Late Summer

Close up of Butterfly Weed flowers

Host for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterfly larvae. Super perennial!! Pictured here covered with Pearly Crescents, a rich nectar for all nectar loving butterflies.

I sacrafice the first growth each year - The plant survives, regrows and fully blooms in our short Minneapolis summer.

Seeds of Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)

In natural conditions at Minnesota Arboretum

Butterfly weed at full bloom

Butterfly weed close-up

September Seed Pods

Seedlings

Found growing wild in untended field in southeast Tennessee.

Growing wild in southeast Tennessee, distance shot. Notice the wide variety of color.

Denver Botanic Gardens 07/21/2009.

I have never seen a caterpillar or chrysalis on this plant, but butterflies do enjoy the nectar

Butterfly Milkweed plant. May 15, 2010. Hopefully it'll bloom this year.

Butterfly Milkweed plant 8 days after being transplanted. Has tiny buds. May 15, 2010

Just flowered this morning. Petals gold dying to dark orange at tips. Hoods partially red with dark orange. July 10, 2010

Same plant, later flowers. Some Red at hoods and Gold and the beginning of petals dying to orange at the tips. July 15, 2010

Buds about to open

rescued a small plant from the roadside about 5 years ago, this is its best year yet, I am very excited to maybe get some seeds to germinate in another place.

University of Washington Botany, Medicinal Herb Garden, Seattle, WA

Butterfly Weed grown from seed...Mason, New Hampshire 2012

06-13-12

Asclepias tuberosa & American Lady

Asclepias tuberosa second year sprouts, approximately 3 inches height. Southern VT, late May 2013.

Butterfly Milkweed growing in the Quarry Gardens at Te Puna, Tauranga, NZ

7/9/14

A second-year Asclepias tuberosa (Orange Milkweed) blooming.

Photo courtesy of Mark Delepine. Copyright of Mark Delapine. Berkeley, California.

Piet Oudolf Garden, Netherlands. Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens. Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. http://www.karlgercens.com/

Vlinderhof, Netherlands. Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens. Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. http://www.karlgercens.com/