Plant Name
Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Common Names: Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Upland
Flower Color: Orange, Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring (late), Summer
Height: To 3 feet (91 cm) tall
Description: The flowers are in terminal, flat-topped umbels. Each flower is solidly colored orange or yellow with 5 reflexed petals and an erect hood extending beyond the central column. The leaves are green and narrowly lanceolate. The stems ooze milky juice if broken.
Special Characteristics
Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract butterflies, and it is one of the food plants for Queen (Danaus gilippus) butterfly caterpillars. This attractive plant is a good choice for butterfly and wildflower gardens, and although Butterfly Milkweed does not transplant well, the seeds are widely available. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil, and supplemental water in hot weather.
Culturally Significant Plant – Native Americans have traditionally used these plants for medicinal purposes, and the young shoots, green fruit, flower buds, and roots were boiled and eaten. Although this plant is poisonous, proper preparation reduces its toxicity.
Poisonous – This plant is mildly poisonous, but it is only harmful if eaten in large amounts.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Gentianales
Family: Asclepiadaceae – Milkweed family
Genus: Asclepias L. – milkweed
Species: Asclepias tuberosa L. – butterfly milkweed
More About This Plant
Arizona County Distribution Map
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) – The Firefly Forest