The Asclepias Tuberosa, also known as Milkweed Butterfly Seeds, is a must-have for any garden.
With its vibrant flowers and nectar-rich blooms, it is the perfect addition for attracting butterflies and pollinators. This bushy perennial is prized for its large, flat-topped clusters of bright orange flowers. The yellow-orange to bright orange flower clusters, 5-12 cm (2-5") across, are at the top of the flowering stems. It is drought-tolerant and deer resistant.
SKU: 143457
Common Name: Milkweed | Butterfly Weed | Butterfly Flower
Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Growing Information
Safe for Bees
Good For Pollinators
Grows Best In:
Partial Shade
Days to Germination:
14 - 21 days
Water Needs:
Average 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week
Growing Height:
70 cm (27")
Key Features
Plant Type: Flower
Plant Lifecycle: Perennial (returns every year)
Fill Weight (grams): 150 mg
Approximate Seed Count: 15-20
Characteristics: Low maintenance | Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, pollinators and specialized bees | Naturalizer | Long blooming | Rock garden plant
Planting Method: Start Indoors
Color: Yellow-orange to bright orange
Water Needs: Average 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week
Hardiness Zone(s): 3 - 9
Harvest/Bloom Season: June to Frost
Landscape Use: Border / Edge Planting
Resistance: Deer
Tolerance: Drought|Poor Soil
Instructions
Growing Instructions:
Milkweed seeds can be sown directly into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is passed. Soil temperature (not air temperature) should be warmer than 10°C (50°F) for seeds to germinate. Planting at a lower temperature will delay germination. Choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Space seeds and plant to the depth indicated below. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 3 mm (1/8") of soil. After planting, water the seeds with a gentle mist or shower. A hard spray can wash soil away, dislodge seeds and clump them together. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. Do not let the soil dry out, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below to provide good air circulation and room to grow.
Click here to read more information on planning and planting a garden.
Planting Depth: 3 mm (1/8")
Seed Spacing: 5 cm (2")
Plant Spacing: 25 - 30 cm (10 - 12")
Instructions for Nutrient Care:
Feed plants SUPERthrive once per week. Mix 1.2 ml (1/4 tsp) per 4L (1 gallon) of water in a watering can and apply solution to the base of the plants.
Suggestions
Growing Suggestions:
Common milkweed not only provides nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators but is a larval host plant for Monarch butterflies.