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Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed
Seed Packet

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa
Once called Pleurisy-root, butterfly weed was employed medicinally by colonists for coughs; northeastern Native Americans pulverized the dried roots and dusted the powder into cuts with a turkey feather to aid healing. Its range extends from the East to the Rocky Mountains in dry soils. The orange flowers cover the plant in midsummer to early fall, attracting bees and butterflies.
SKU #S015
Caution: Poisonous. The purchaser assumes all liability related to the use of this product.
$3.50
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Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
50
Lifecycle
Perennial
Perennial Hardiness Zone
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
Mature Size
2-3' h x 2' w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Regular to rich, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Clusters of orange flowers
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Heat or Drought Tolerant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Barely cover 1/16"
Sprout Time:
21-40 days after chill
Starting Indoors:
Stratify for 3-6 weeks in late winter. To stratify, soak seeds for several hours and place in moist vermiculite in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. Check often for germination. Eight to 10 weeks before last frost, remove pre-chilled seeds from refrigerator and sow in pots. Keep at 60-70°F. Transplant with care to avoid disturbing the small taproot.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in fall or earliest spring, or wintersow into pots in the shade, covered with a thin layer of clean sand and a wire screen to keep out mice and voles. Check for moisture at regular intervals.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
In spring, after frost
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Butterfly weed makes a showy addition to wildflower gardens and edges of sunny borders. A top beneficial insect host, it nurtures many species of helpful bugs and attracts bees and butterflies too! Mark its spot in the garden for it is late to emerge in spring and the taproots do not like disturbance. Self-sows. Caution: handle carefully, as all parts are mildly poisonous, but toxicity is concentrated in the sap.
Final Spacing:
1-2'
Water Requirements:
Low Water Use
Watering Details:
These plants prefer drier soil, and can tolerate drought. 1" of water per week until established, then water during prolonged dry weather.
Soil pH:
Most pH levels are tolerated.
Fertilizer:
Butterfly weed is not a heavy feeder, so a single application of slow-release organic fertilizer in springtime is sufficient. Or, provide with a thin layer of compost each spring.
Diseases & Pests:
Butterfly weed can occasionally be susceptible to rust, but this can be avoided by preventively spraying with an organic fungicide every two weeks or so, depending on local weather conditions.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Cut when florets are mostly open for fresh arrangements. Plants have a milky sap. For dry use cut when seed pods have started to dry.