perennial · design plant record

Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly weed

Orange summer flowers above a compact root system; a host plant where locally appropriate.

Photographs show the source plant or captioned cultivar, season and setting. They do not document one of our illustrative garden layouts as a built project.

Height at maturity

0.3–0.91 m (1–3 ft)

Spread at maturity

0.3–0.46 m (1–1.5 ft)

Light

Sun / Part shade

Moisture

Drier soil after establishment / Moist, draining soil

Source-reported USDA zones

3–9 · verify subzone and cultivar

Principal seasonal role

Spring, Summer

Fit it to the site

Lean, draining soil; sun is the reliable flowering choice.

Reject persistently wet soil. Source prose reaches 3 ft high, above the 2 ft structured field; the larger height is retained.

Keep the care in the decision

Avoid disturbing the taproot. Allow establishment time and decide whether to retain seed pods; caterpillar feeding is part of its host-plant role.

Origin & safety checks

Eastern and southern United States. Confirm local native range and restrictions.

The source flags poisonous parts or harmful exposure. Check the exact plant and household exposure before purchase; no edible or pet-safe use is inferred.

Check current invasive restrictions with your local plant-health or extension authority. For pets, use the exact botanical name in a veterinary toxicity reference; for potential ingestion or exposure, get appropriate professional advice rather than relying on a design guide.