Asclepias tuberosa, better known as Butterfly Weed—a dazzling, pollinator-friendly perennial that’s loved by gardeners and butterflies alike! This plant is instantly recognisable for its clusters of bright orange flowers that appear in summer, lighting up the garden like little bursts of sunshine.

Asclepias tuberosa is native to North America, where it has been growing wild in meadows, prairies, and along roadsides for centuries. Indigenous peoples used it as a medicinal plant, which is why it sometimes goes by the old name “pleurisy root.” It was valued for its use in traditional remedies for respiratory ailments. Today, though, it’s mostly grown for its ornamental beauty and for the way it draws in butterflies, especially monarchs, as well as bees and other beneficial insects.

Growing habits are straightforward. Butterfly Weed is a hardy perennial, forming a clump that grows about 45–60 cm tall with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Once established, it’s very drought tolerant and thrives in poor, sandy, or well-drained soils where other plants might struggle. It loves full sun and rewards you with weeks of blooms in mid to late summer. Once it finishes flowering, it produces decorative seed pods that split open to release silky, wind-borne seeds.

How to grow

To grow Asclepias tuberosa from seed, a little patience is needed. The seeds often benefit from cold stratification—mimicking a winter chill—before germination. You can do this by placing the seeds in a damp paper towel inside a sealed bag and refrigerating them for about 4–6 weeks.

After this, sow the seeds about 0.5–1 cm deep in seed-raising mix or directly into the garden once the soil has warmed. Germination can take 2–3 weeks, sometimes longer.

Once seedlings are strong enough, transplant them carefully, as the plant develops a deep taproot that doesn’t like disturbance. With time, they’ll establish into tough, reliable clumps that come back year after year, each summer bringing a fresh display of fiery orange flowers and happy pollinators!