Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - Toxic to mammals if ingested.
Image of Asclepias tuberosa
image of Flowering plant
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly milkweed
Asclépiade tubéreuse

Obsolete Names

  • butterflyweed
  • orange milkweed
  • pleurisy root
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: Orange Bloom period: June - August
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 3.0 feet
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan : Perennial
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Hummingbird friendly Supports hummingbirds
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
Tolerates:
drought Tolerant Tolerates drought conditions
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions

Plant Distribution

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Asclepias tuberosa
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Ecozone-Mixed Wood Plain
  • Ecozone-Boreal Shield
  • Ecozone-Boreal_Plains

Butterflies Supported by Asclepias tuberosa

  • Danaus plexippus (Monarch)

Bees Supported by Asclepias tuberosa

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

  • No complementary plants found.

Sowing Information

  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow before March
  • Stratification duration: 30 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting Information

  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are slightly open and seeds inside are dark
  • Harvesting mean: Use hand to detach from main stem
  • Seed Viability Test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging Measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed Storage: Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • On Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity