And this popular plant hosts many more besides monarchs. Milkweeds are frequently encountered throughout the state, and the rest of North America. More information about this non-native is available through the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants. Scientific name: Asclepias tuberosa Pronunciation:as-KLEE-pee-us too-bur-O-suh Common name(s): butterfly weed, Indian paintbrush, butterfly milkweed Family: Apocynaceae Plant type:herbaceous; annual USDA hardiness zones:8 through 10 (Figure 3) Planting months for zone 7:June; July Planting months for zone 8:May; June; July; August Planting months for zone 9:March; April; May; June; July; August; September Planting months for zone 10 and 11:February; March; April; May; June; July; August; Septem… View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects. It likes sun or part shade and is drought tolerant, so once established it can live in dry, sandy spots. Asclepias incarnata . A. curassavica is not yet considered an invasive species in Florida. Share. A punch of intense tangerine orange invites droves of butterflies. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial native with orange or yellow flowers that appear in late summer and early fall. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Not only is it attractive, it's an important nectar source for bees and other insects. Milkweed is also well known for attracting butterflies and serving as a host plant for their caterpillars. University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects. A. tuberosa's vibrant colors make it attractive to a number of pollinators. Asclepias Tuberosa - Common name:Butterfly Weed - 2017 Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year. I don’t know why tuberosa has been called the “worst host plant”. The flower colors are orange, red and yellow. Asclepias Tuberosa is an important native plant for the survival of the Monarch Butterfly, and provides you with lovely orange blooms at the same time. They tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, from clay to sand. UF Privacy Policy 2. May be recommended by IFAS. Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. I live in the Los Angeles area and have had only good luck with Asclepias tuberosa, the only variety I have been able to find in the local nurseries. As a host plant for a number of pollinators, use of pesticides on milkweed is discouraged. It attracts queen and monarch butterflies for nectar and larval food. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. The familiar, fluffy white stuff found in milkweed pods called coma, also known as silk, floss, plume, or pappus is used for insulating clothing. Aphids can also cause damage. Still, we think the rewards make these species worth the search. Collect the silky seed pods as they develop. A butterfly host plant for Monarchs in particular; butterflies also cherish its lavish flower clusters filled with scrumptious nectar. Different species are found in very wet habitats as well as in very dry ones. Asclepias Tuberosa / Butterfly Weed Facts and General Description. rose milkweed. Asclepias tuberosa (left) | Milkweed seeds in autumn. The colorful flowers earned it the name bloodflower and scarlet milkweed commercially. Asclepias quadrifolia, commonly known as whorled milkweed or four-leaf milkweed, is an upright single-stemmed herbaceous perennial that typically grows to 1-2 1/2’ tall. Florida is home to about 21 native species of milkweed. It produces bunches of orange, yellow, and red tubular blooms for months. There are a number of subspecies of Asclepias tuberosa that grow throughout the eastern half of the U.S., all the way to northern Canada (Kartesz, 1999). Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a Florida native milkweed with pink blooms. It’s popularly used in gardens to attract butterflies. As a result, expect some aesthetic damage throughout the growing season. Asclepias tuberosa is not palatable to deer and other herbivores but all sorts of insects love it. Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. Planting multiple species can also increase the attractiveness to butterflies and other pollinators. Easy care, drought tolerant and deer resistant, Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is a bushy perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers which bloom continuously throughout summer. Avoid overhead watering. Google Privacy Policy | The Asclepias tuberosa, commonly called butterfly weed, is a tuberous rooted, Missouri native perennial which occurs in dry/rocky open woods, glades, prairies, … Daniels recommends either Asclepias incarnata, also called swamp milkweed, or Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterflyweed.Asclepias humistrata, or pinewoods milkweed, is also common throughout northern Florida and essential to monarch recolonization. It flowers into the fall. Larval host to the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) and soldier butterfly, (Danaus eresimus).Attracts various pollinators including butterflies and bees. The plants grow to two- to four-feet-tall and flower from spring until fall. Which should you choose for your garden? It is native to the American tropics and has a pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Bloodflower, Butterfly-Weed, Milkweed, Scarlet milkweed, Silkweed Synonyms. Install milkweed behind ground covers or mounding plants to hide the stems but show off the blooms. Our Wildflower Meadow at the UF/IFAS Orange County Extension center hosts a variety of native plant species. Keep pets and small children away. From late summer through early fall it produces orange or yellow flowers. Recent research has scientists divided over tropical milkweed's value to monarch preservation. Milkweed is the poster plant for pollinator gardens. Some studies suggest that overwintering puts monarch populations at a higher risk for certain diseases. This distinctive color and the absence of the typical milky white sap that other Milkweed species have make identification easy. In fact, it is almost impossible to grow milkweed without a throng of oleander aphids in residence. Tropical milkweed also has a higher concentration of cardenolides, which may affect monarchs in the caterpillar stage of their life cycle. The Asclepias tuberosa, commonly referred to as butterflyweed, is considered easiest to grow as they transplant well and thrive in full sun. Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org. The flowers are usually orange, rarely yellow or red. Many Florida species used in the landscape prefer dry, sandy soil and are moderately drought tolerant. This page uses Google Analytics Tropical milkweed's popularity as a landscape plant may help the monarchs regain territory. Butterfly weed(Asclepias tuberosa), also called butterfly milkweed, has orange or yellow flowers and grows about two feet tall. Sometimes it is labeled "butterfly weed" or simply "milkweed." Commonly known as butterfly weed or Indian paintbrush, Asclepias tuberosa is virtually maintenance-free once established, tolerating even dry, rocky soil. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar. For these reasons it is frequently stocked in nurseries around the state. This sap can irritate skin and is toxic if consumed in large quantities. Common Names. Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is one of the most available and popular native species of milkweed. Asclepias tuberosa L., (Butterfly Weed) General Description . Of Florida’s 21 native milkweed species, there are only a handful you can easily raise at home. In many nurseries, the most readily available species of milkweed happens is a popular but non-native one. Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is attractive, available, and native to Florida. You may have to search for native milkweeds from nurseries that specialize in native plants or butterfly gardens. Butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ), also called butterfly milkweed, has orange or yellow flowers and grows about two feet tall. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is beautiful, but not native to Florida. Most milkweeds prefer full sun. Asclepias tuberosa NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly flower Sold by 25 nurseries. It grows in sandy or loamy soil in prairies, roadsides, and open woodlands. Others, such as Asclepias perennis, or aquatic milkweed, and Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, must be grown using trays without drain holes, as their “feet” must be kept wet. Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org. Milkweeds get their common name from the milky sap they exude. And whether or not the milkweed is being installed as part of a butterfly garden, plant multiple plants. How to Grow Asclepias Tuberosa. Other native milkweeds are available as well. Asclepias tuberosa, the butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America. This one is commonly called butterfly weed; butterflies are greatly attracted. It is native to dry, rocky, open woods, often inhabiting slopes and ridges, from New Hampshire to Ontario to Minnesota south to Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia. Butterfly weed is common throughout Florida, preferring to grow in dry sandy places: pasture fence rows and sandhill areas. Asclepias tuberosa, or butterfly weed, is a hardy perennial that blooms summer into fall. No known synonyms Conclusions by Zone. Threatened and Endangered Information: This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. It blooms in summer and early fall, providing a nectar source after the spring blooming flowers are done. For Status Assessments: Caution - manage to prevent escape. If you plant tropical milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution. The assessment does suggest "caution — manage to prevent escape" for growers in South Florida. Milkweeds in the genus Asclepias provide the only plant material monarch caterpillars can eat. Asclepias tuberosa ssp. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services ... Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Green antelopehorn (Asclepias viridis) White vine (Sarcostemma clausum) FIGURE 3. Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family and, by some reports, the only Asclepias that does consistently well in south Florida. Acacia choriophylla Acacia farnesiana Acer rubrum Achillea filipendulina Achillea millefolium Acoelorrhaphe, Paurotis wrightii Acrostichum danaeifolium You can plant them closely, about 18-24 inches apart. Join now. It flowers into the fall. Use plastic flats or seedling trays. Milkweed is the only host plant the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) can use to complete its lifecycle. The plant will not flower freely until well established. A list is provided at the bottom of this article, taken from the Atlas of Florida Plants. Read on for more information about native and non-native milkweeds. The plants grow to two feet tall and flower from July to September. Site Feedback. It likes sun or part shade and is drought tolerant, so once established it can live in dry, sandy spots. Its year-round growth may encourage monarchs to overwinter instead of following their normal migration pattern. swamp milkweed. There are a number of subspecies of Asclepias tuberosa that grow throughout the eastern half … They point out that the most pressing threat to monarchs is extreme habitat loss. 1). © 2021 University of Florida / IFAS / Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Tropical milkweed probably wins the contest for the … Monarch caterpillars can consume a plant's leaves quickly, but do not usually damage the plant long-term. Butterfly Garden Ideas and Gardening Tips to Attract Monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds, and other Precious Pollinators. Gardeners should also cut it back to ground-level once a year. One, Asclepias tuberosa, is native to Florida. Asclepias humistrata; Asclepias lanceolata; Asclepias lonjpgolia; Asclepias tuberosa; Asimina species; Asparagus aethiopicus; Asparagus setaceus; Aster carolinianum; Asystasia gangetica; ... UF / IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants Archive 7922 NW 71 Street Gainesville, FL 32653 This is the orange milkweed you can sometimes find along roadsides and forest clearings. You may have to seek them out in nurseries that specialize in natives or butterfly gardens. Milkweeds generally grow quickly, reaching a final height of one to four feet tall, depending on the species. Tips for Raising Native Milkweed. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. This is a great Milkweed for a sunny location in a dry area. Butterfly weed is common throughout Florida, preferring to grow in dry sandy places: pasture fence rows and sandhill areas. ; Seeds: plant your seeds directly into the soil in the fall.As an alternative, you can start your seeds indoors, 4-8 weeks before the average date of last frost. Tropical milkweed blooms during much of the year and reseeds freely. CREDITS: C A couple of these species, in fact, are endemic, meaning they're found only in our state. This species can be identified by its alternate leaves. Common names are from state and federal lists. Will be reassessed in two years. For more information about milkweed and other pollinator species, contact your county Extension office. Keep these in check with a blast of water from the hose instead of applying pesticides. The other, Asclepias curassavica, is non-native. These tiny orange plant lice suck the plant’s sap and exude sticky honeydew that … Planting Milkweed. Almost all of Florida’s 24 milkweeds are native, and at least two of them are native only to Florida (endemic). There are two species of native milkweed in our garden that are both host plants for the Monrach butterfly, pink/white Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and orange Scrub milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Butterfly weed grows as a perennial in USDA Hardiness zones 3-10a. It sports attractive, bright blooms and is very hardy. tuberosa butterfly milkweed Legal Status. Sitting atop upright flowering stems clad with stiff, lance-shaped leaves, the colorful umbels, 2-5 inches across (5-12 cm), are followed by attractive seed pods in fall. But for a pollinator-friendly garden, we think it's worth the effort. The Sunshine State is home to more than twenty species of milkweed, almost all of which are native. The best sites have exposure to sun or partial shade and almost any soil. Tropical milkweed's status will be reassessed periodically. Check the label for the scientific name to avoid confusing this plant with a native milkweed species. Asclepias curassavica. This helps reduce the risk of disease build up. Perhaps most famously, milkweed species serve as the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Two milkweed species are commonly offered for sale as "butterfly garden plants." Credit: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org, The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Grow Native Milkweed to Support the Monarch--the Panhandle Outdoors, UF/IFAS Extension, If You Plant it, They Will Come -- UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Milkweed for Monarchs in Central Florida--UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, Monarchs and Milkweed: Six Things You Can Do to Help--UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County, Native Habitats for Monarch Butterflies in South Florida, Are Non-native Milkweeds Killing Monarch Butterflies?--Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). South Caution. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a showstopper. My five large plants were found by Monarchs almost immediately, and so far I’ve raised 7 Monarchs, (4 females, 3 males). Some long-season wildflowers are well known, like black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), scarlet salvia (Salvia coccinea), pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), and powderpuff mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa). Too few and you will be left with leafless milkweed and hungry caterpillars! Asclepias tuberosa1 Edward F. Gilman2 Introduction Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Fig. The plant can be grown as an annual flower or as a perennial. An adult monarch and a monarch larva (caterpillar), both feeding on milkweed. Asclepias curassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed, is a flowering plant species of the milkweed genus, Asclepias. Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, is most often a distinctive bright orange but there is some variation in flower color, from deep red-orange to yellow. Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. It’s less successful as a pillow stuffing lacking fluffiness for comfort. Native Habitats: Marshes, swamps The mix included Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly milkweed. Find out if it's a good idea for your monarch butterfly garden... Monarch Butterfly Garden- Bring Home the Butterflies. “It’s not as simple as saying, ‘we plant milkweed and the … The flower colors are red and orange borne in clusters at the top of the plant. Unless you visit a nursery that specializes in native plants, you are unlikely to find more than one native milkweed species for sale. On the other hand, some scientists are in favor of tropical milkweed. Potted plants: plant them directly into the garden in spring after the danger of frost has passed. We’ll talk about what it takes to grow those first- we know that’s why a lot of you clicked. Adding these natives will make your landscape a refuge for Florida's flora and fauna. 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