Asclepiadaceae
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Tough-rooted perennial that earns its keep with almost no fuss
Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Co-attribution must be given to the Chanticleer Garden. via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
About this plant
Asclepias tuberosa, commonly listed under its scientific name, is a perennial that belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae and the genus Asclepias. It is one of the most forgiving plants a beginner can put in the ground, rated for an extraordinary range of USDA hardiness zones spanning 1a all the way through 13b. That near-universal hardiness means gardeners from Minnesota to South Florida can grow it outdoors without losing sleep over winter kill.
What makes this plant a reliable choice is how little it demands once established. With only medium water needs and a care commitment of roughly ten minutes per week, it fits into the schedule of even the busiest first-time gardener. As a true perennial, it will return season after season from the same root system, meaning the effort you put in during year one pays dividends for years to come. The genus Asclepias has a long history in North American gardens, and tuberosa in particular has earned a reputation as a beginner-friendly entry point into perennial gardening.
The gallery
Historical plates & modern photos
Gallery
Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Co-attribution must be given to the Chanticleer Garden. via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
Gallery
Ragesoss via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
How to grow it
Five steps, start to bloom.
Written for beginners. If you've never grown anything before, this is all you need to keep this plant alive and happy.
Pick a spot
Find a spot with enough light for its needs. Plant it outdoors, ideally sheltered from the harshest afternoon wind.
Plant it
Any good all-purpose potting mix or well-drained garden soil will do. Give each plant enough room for its mature spread. Crowding causes more problems than undersizing the bed. Water it in gently once it's settled.
Water it
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, roughly once a week in summer. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before the next round.
Feed & tend
This one is very forgiving. A balanced all-purpose fertiliser at the start of the growing season is plenty, and you can skip a month without harm. Plan on 10 minutes a week of hands-on care: watering, a quick trim, checking for pests.
Enjoy it
Watch for new growth in spring and summer. If the leaves look tired, trim the oldest ones back to encourage fresh foliage.
Year at a glance
What to do, month by month.
Approximate for a temperate North American zone. Shift earlier the further south you garden, later the further north.
Jan
January: Rest
Dormant
Feb
February: Rest
Dormant
Mar
March: Wake up
New growth
Apr
April: Tend
Routine care
May
May: Tend
Routine care
Jun
June: Tend
Routine care
Jul
July: Tend
Routine care
Aug
August: Tend
Routine care
Sep
September: Tend
Routine care
Oct
October: Tend
Routine care
Nov
November: Wind down
Prep for dormancy
Dec
December: Rest
Dormant
Pet & people safety
We haven't verified this plant yet.
We only publish toxicity information when a human has checked it against a primary source. Until that happens, treat this plant as potentially harmful to pets and children: don't let it be eaten or chewed, and consult the ASPCA or your vet if anyone does. You can also search the ASPCA's public toxic-plant database below.
Bloomwise is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice. Every line above comes from a hand-verified reference.
Recommended supplies
#adHand-picked tools for this plant.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Every product is curated by hand and chosen because it actually helps with this plant, not because it pays the highest rate.
Park Seed
Park Seed Native Butterfly Garden Wildflower Mix
A native seed mix built around milkweed, coneflower, and rudbeckia. Milkweed anchors the habitat; the companion plants extend the bloom window from June through October.
$9.95 approx.
Burpee
Burpee Butterfly Milkweed Seeds (Orange)
The native milkweed monarch butterflies need, with brilliant orange blooms that hold through summer. Direct-sow after last frost — milkweed resents transplanting and does fine without fussing.
$6.95 approx.
People also planted
More plants you might love.
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Soft needles, towering ambition, beginner-friendly roots
Japanese Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Ground-hugging greenery that fills bare shade with quiet confidence
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Spring's first bold statement, written in rosy-pink bloom
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Flat-topped flower clusters that tough out winters from Zone 1a to 13b
Frequently asked
Common questions.
- What USDA zones does Butterfly Milkweed grow in?
- Butterfly Milkweed is hardy in USDA zones 1a to 13b. If your winter lows fall outside that range, grow it in a container you can bring indoors, or treat it as an annual.
- How often should I water Butterfly Milkweed?
- Water about once a week in summer, adjusting for rainfall. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before watering again.
- How much sunlight does Butterfly Milkweed need?
- Butterfly Milkweed prefers four to six hours of sun, ideally morning light.
- Is Butterfly Milkweed safe for pets?
- We haven't verified toxicity information for Butterfly Milkweed. Treat it as potentially harmful and keep it out of reach of pets and children. If a pet eats any part of it, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Butterfly Milkweed good for beginners?
- Yes, this is a forgiving plant that tolerates inconsistent watering and the occasional missed feeding. A good choice for a first garden.
Sources
Plant facts on this page come from a blend of public-domain and open-licensed datasets: Biodiversity Heritage Library (historical botanical illustrations, public domain), USDA PLANTS (taxonomy, public domain), GBIF (occurrence and taxonomy, CC-BY 4.0), OpenFarm (crop guides, CC-BY-SA 3.0), and Open-Meteo (climate and hardiness lookup, CC-BY 4.0). Toxicity records come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline; every row is hand-verified against a primary reference.