Difference between revisions of "Butterfly weed"

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|species=tuberosa
 
|species=tuberosa
 
|common_name=Butterfly Weed
 
|common_name=Butterfly Weed
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|name_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
 
|habit=herbaceous
 
|habit=herbaceous
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|habit_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
 
|Min ht metric=cm
 
|Min ht metric=cm
 
|Max ht box=3
 
|Max ht box=3
 
|Max ht metric=ft
 
|Max ht metric=ft
 +
|height_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
 
|Max wd box=2
 
|Max wd box=2
 
|Max wd metric=ft
 
|Max wd metric=ft
 
|lifespan=perennial
 
|lifespan=perennial
 +
|life_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
 
|exposure=sun
 
|exposure=sun
|water=dry
+
|sun_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|water=moderate, dry
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|water_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
 
|features=flowers, butterflys
 
|features=flowers, butterflys
 
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
 
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flowers=orange
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|flowers=orange, yellow
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|Temp Metric=°F
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|min_zone=4
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|usda_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|max_zone=9.5
 
|image=Asclepias tuberosa.jpg
 
|image=Asclepias tuberosa.jpg
 
|image_width=240
 
|image_width=240
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The plant looks similar to the [[Lanceolate milkweed]] (''Asclepias lanceolata''), but is uniquely identified by the larger number of flowers, and the hairy stems that are not milky when broken. It is most commonly found in fields with dry soil.  
 
The plant looks similar to the [[Lanceolate milkweed]] (''Asclepias lanceolata''), but is uniquely identified by the larger number of flowers, and the hairy stems that are not milky when broken. It is most commonly found in fields with dry soil.  
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{{Inc|
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Asclepias tuberosa, Linn. Butterfly-weed. Pleurisy Root. Hairy, 2-3 ft. high, from long, horizontal roots, with more or less alternate, lance-oblong or lance-linear Lvs.: umbels several, short-peduncled: pods pubescent, erect. Dry banks and fields; widespread, and not infrequent. —A handsome plant.
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}}
  
 
==Cultivation==
 
==Cultivation==

Latest revision as of 15:53, 7 May 2011


Asclepias tuberosa.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   herbaceous

Height: 3 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 3.
Width: 2 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 2.
Lifespan: perennial
Bloom: early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
Cultivation
Exposure: sun
Water: moderate, dry
Features: flowers, butterflys
USDA Zones: 4 to 9.5
Flower features: orange, yellow
Scientific Names

Apocynaceae >

Asclepias >

tuberosa >


Common names
Butterfly Weed, Canada Root, Chigger Flower, Chiggerflower, Fluxroot, Indian Paintbrush, Indian Posy, Orange Milkweed, Orange Swallow-wort, Pleurisy Root, Silky Swallow-wort, Tuber Root, Yellow Milkweed, White-root, Windroot

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to 0.6-2 m (1 -2 feet) tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early fall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 5-12 cm long and 2-3 cm broad.

This plant favors dry, sand or gravel soil, but has also been reported on stream margins. It requires full sun.

The common name comes from the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar. Butterfly weed is also the larval food plant of the Queen and Monarch butterflies. The butterfly weed grows to be 1-3 feet long.

The plant looks similar to the Lanceolate milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata), but is uniquely identified by the larger number of flowers, and the hairy stems that are not milky when broken. It is most commonly found in fields with dry soil.


Read about Butterfly weed in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Asclepias tuberosa, Linn. Butterfly-weed. Pleurisy Root. Hairy, 2-3 ft. high, from long, horizontal roots, with more or less alternate, lance-oblong or lance-linear Lvs.: umbels several, short-peduncled: pods pubescent, erect. Dry banks and fields; widespread, and not infrequent. —A handsome plant.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Butterfly weed is easily propagated by cuttings in water.

Pests and diseases

Species

Subspecies indicated:

  • Asclepias tuberosa interior, Central United States.
  • Asclepias tuberosa rolfsii (Rolfs Milkweed), Southeast United States.
  • Asclepias tuberosa tuberosa, Eastern United States.

Gallery

References

External links