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Asclepias tuberosa, or simply Butterfly Weed, is hardly a weed as its common name suggests. This vibrant, hardy perennial lacks the creamy sap of its milkweed relatives, but is one of the primary wildflower varieties critical to Monarch life cycles. Pioneers knew it "Pleurisy Root" for the medicinal compounds found in its root. Today, it is a prized ornamental plant much-loved by all pollinator species.
Consider planting the low-maintenance Butterfly Weed in your own pollinator garden! You'll be regaled with neon red-orange blossoms as well as a cloud of grateful fluttering friends, from butterflies to hummingbirds.
This summer, we were thrilled to see the first milkweed blooms from our Nature Center planting project. Stop by and see the results of all the hard work, or visit our sister garden at the Pollinator Meadow in Clinton!
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