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A beautiful weed
(by Gina M. Mahon - July 02, 2008)
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Photo by Gina M. Mahon
Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as Butterfly weed, is the perfect plant for dry, infertile soil.
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Is there a section of your garden where the soil is dry, infertile and in full sun and you just don’t know what will grow best in those conditions? Well, how about weeds! That’s right, I said weeds!
In particular Asclepias tuberose, whose name comes from one of the Greek gods of healing (Asklepios), or as it is more commonly called Butterfly weed. Because of the bad association of the word ‘weeds’ when referring to gardening, some are now calling it Butterfly Flower, which should not be confused with the more common shrub, Butterfly Bush.
This late spring, early summer blooming perennial is a native wildflower of the eastern part of North America and is found growing along the roadside and amongst grasses and in a meadow setting where little rainfall occurs. Planting it in a wet area is certain death for this plant.
Butterfly weed grows in a clump form spreading from between two to three feet wide and anywhere from 18 to 36 inches tall. This is a favorite plant of mine with its small bright orange flowers clustered together like umbrellas. Not only does butterfly weed produce hundreds of orange flowers but in the autumn it produces slim three inch long seedpods whose seeds are attached on silk like threads. When mature, the pods open and the seeds sail away on the slightest breeze. This is very similar to the milkweed pods.
As its name suggest, it is a butterfly magnet! Dozens of colorful butterflies can be seen flitting around together to get a taste of its sweet nectar. In particular it attracts the Aphrodite, Monarch, and Fritillary butterflies. This is a must have plant for your wildflower or butterfly garden and it is also great used as a dried flower, as is its seedpods.
If you are interested in this plant, it is best to purchase one from your local nursery/garden center or start it from seeds. Make sure you clearly mark the area which you have planted this beautiful wildflower in because it is slow to emerge in the springtime and you may accidentally dig it up and plant something else in its place. This plant has a very deep taproot and like all plants with deep taproots, such as columbine, it is difficult to transplant. Since the taproot grows so deeply, (it can easily grow between rock crevasses) most of the taproot will break off when you try to dig it up. But if you are careful and you have not planted it in a rocky area, dig very deep and you should be able to divide it just fine.
I have not seen any other color other than orange in my local nursery/garden centers. However, in the garden catalogues that I receive I have seen ones listed ‘Gay Butterflies’ with white, red or yellow flowers. Butterfly weed is a slow grower and is deer resistant. Deadheading is the only maintenance required to prolong the flowering stage into the autumn. Also, even though butterfly weed grows wild, it is a non-invasive plant.
Remember – there can never be enough flowers, so enjoy!
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