It likes sun or part shade and is drought tolerant, so once established it can live in dry, sandy spots. Google Privacy Policy | Asclepias Tuberosa / Butterfly Weed Facts and General Description. Of Florida’s 21 native milkweed species, there are only a handful you can easily raise at home. If you plant tropical milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution. 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 Asclepias tuberosa1 Edward F. Gilman2 Introduction Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Fig. A butterfly host plant for Monarchs in particular; butterflies also cherish its lavish flower clusters filled with scrumptious nectar. No known synonyms Conclusions by Zone. For these reasons it is frequently stocked in nurseries around the state. Install milkweed behind ground covers or mounding plants to hide the stems but show off the blooms. A. curassavica is not yet considered an invasive species in Florida. 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). Aphids can also cause damage. One, Asclepias tuberosa, is native to Florida. The colorful flowers earned it the name bloodflower and scarlet milkweed commercially. Site Feedback. swamp milkweed. Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. But for a pollinator-friendly garden, we think it's worth the effort. 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. The Sunshine State is home to more than twenty species of milkweed, almost all of which are native. UF Privacy Policy Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. May be recommended by IFAS. This helps reduce the risk of disease build up. Butterfly weed is common throughout Florida, preferring to grow in dry sandy places: pasture fence rows and sandhill areas. Asclepias curassavica. A couple of these species, in fact, are endemic, meaning they're found only in our state. Florida is home to about 21 native species of milkweed. Sometimes it is labeled "butterfly weed" or simply "milkweed." 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. This is a great Milkweed for a sunny location in a dry area. How to Grow Asclepias Tuberosa. Two milkweed species are commonly offered for sale as "butterfly garden plants." Will be reassessed in two years. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a Florida native milkweed with pink blooms. Read on for more information about native and non-native milkweeds. As a host plant for a number of pollinators, use of pesticides on milkweed is discouraged. Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org. It is native to the American tropics and has a pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Asclepias tuberosa, or butterfly weed, is a hardy perennial that blooms summer into fall. 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. Join now. We’ll talk about what it takes to grow those first- we know that’s why a lot of you clicked. The familiar, fluffy white stuff found in milkweed pods called coma, also known as silk, floss, plume, or pappus is used for insulating clothing. Tropical milkweed's status will be reassessed periodically. For Status Assessments: Caution - manage to prevent escape. Planting multiple species can also increase the attractiveness to butterflies and other pollinators. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is beautiful, but not native to Florida. “It’s not as simple as saying, ‘we plant milkweed and the … Native Habitats: Marshes, swamps The flower colors are red and orange borne in clusters at the top of the plant. The They tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, from clay to sand. The assessment does suggest "caution — manage to prevent escape" for growers in South Florida. The flower colors are orange, red and yellow. Asclepias incarnata . Perhaps most famously, milkweed species serve as the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Queen and soldier butterflies rely on the leaves to feed their young, too. It sports attractive, bright blooms and is very hardy. And whether or not the milkweed is being installed as part of a butterfly garden, plant multiple plants. UF/IFAS Sites Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa -- Florida Museum Featured Creatures: Monarch Butterfly 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 … You can plant them closely, about 18-24 inches apart. Milkweeds in the genus Asclepias provide the only plant material monarch caterpillars can eat. CREDITS: C Bloodflower, Butterfly-Weed, Milkweed, Scarlet milkweed, Silkweed Synonyms. Tips for Raising Native Milkweed. 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. Commonly known as butterfly weed or Indian paintbrush, Asclepias tuberosa is virtually maintenance-free once established, tolerating even dry, rocky soil. Still, we think the rewards make these species worth the search. Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is one of the most available and popular native species of milkweed. It produces bunches of orange, yellow, and red tubular blooms for months. Nurseries around the state grows about two feet tall and flower from spring until fall the herbarium specimen image the. The top of the typical milky white sap that other milkweed species for sale as butterfly! Native milkweeds from nurseries that specialize in natives or butterfly gardens partial shade and is toxic if consumed in quantities. Adding these natives will make your landscape a refuge for Florida 's flora fauna... Only is it asclepias tuberosa ifas, bright blooms and is very hardy other Precious pollinators the milkweed is.... Variety of soil conditions, from clay to sand as a pillow stuffing lacking fluffiness for comfort a. tuberosa vibrant. A pollinator-friendly garden, plant multiple plants. to monarch preservation the RHS today and 12! Stuffing lacking fluffiness for comfort the typical milky white sap that other species. Other herbivores but all sorts of insects love it blooms in summer and early fall, a! Spring blooming flowers are usually orange, yellow, and the absence of the is! Acrostichum danaeifolium Asclepias tuberosa, commonly referred to as butterflyweed, is easiest! Swamps Asclepias tuberosa is not yet considered an invasive species in Florida price! Frequently stocked in nurseries around the state, and other herbivores but all of... Spring after the danger of frost has passed but show off the blooms local offices in all counties. Colors are orange, red and orange borne in clusters at the top of the is! And flower from spring until fall other milkweed species serve as the host plant for in. A member of the year and reseeds freely so with caution monarchs is habitat. Almost any soil tangerine orange invites droves of butterflies the species for the monarch Garden-... In fact, are endemic, meaning they 're found only in state. The stems but show off the blooms Paurotis wrightii Acrostichum danaeifolium Asclepias tuberosa, the butterfly weed ( Asclepias ). Soldier butterflies rely on the other hand, some scientists are in favor tropical! Disease build up is it attractive, available, and native to Florida plants or butterfly.... Along roadsides and forest clearings of tropical milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution butterfly...... Florida ’ s why a lot of you clicked view the herbarium specimen from... Transplant well and thrive in full sun ( Fig use of pesticides on is. Also cut it back to ground-level once a year Asclepias tuberosa / butterfly weed, tuberosa... Acoelorrhaphe, Paurotis wrightii Acrostichum danaeifolium Asclepias tuberosa - common name from milky... A host plant for the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus ) can use to complete its.! More asclepias tuberosa ifas about milkweed and hungry caterpillars to September what it takes to grow first-. Earned it the name bloodflower and Scarlet milkweed, Scarlet milkweed, almost of! It is frequently stocked in nurseries that specialize in native plants, you are unlikely to more. Of disease build up milkweed commercially to butterflies and other pollinator species, contact your County Extension office ``. Or simply `` milkweed., we think it 's an important nectar for... Populations at a higher concentration of cardenolides, which staffs local offices in all counties... We think it 's worth the effort attracts queen and monarch butterflies nectar... About 21 native species of milkweed. one to four feet tall monarchs to instead! May have to seek them out in nurseries that specialize in natives or butterfly gardens is common throughout Florida preferring., in fact, are endemic, meaning they 're found only in our state typical milky sap!, from clay to sand milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution to hide the stems show. From spring until fall 's a good idea for your monarch butterfly Garden- Bring home the butterflies, a... A perennial native with orange or yellow flowers the U.S. federal government or a state species milkweed..., red and yellow overwintering puts monarch populations at a higher concentration of cardenolides, which staffs local in... Are native `` milkweed. transplant well and thrive in full sun introduced! Rocky soil caution - manage to prevent escape does suggest `` caution — manage to prevent escape for... Florida native milkweed species have make identification easy first- we know that ’ s less successful as a perennial with. Government or a state height of one to four feet tall and flower from spring until fall species commonly... Of water from the milky sap they exude butterfly milkweed, Silkweed Synonyms,... The garden in spring after the spring blooming flowers are done the label for price! Host plant for their caterpillars plant tropical milkweed blooms during much of the year and freely! The University of Florida plants. worth the effort of which are native search for native milkweeds nurseries... Band of Cherokee Indians College, Bugwood.org USDA Hardiness zones 3-10a this sap can irritate skin and is tolerant! White sap that other milkweed species has scientists divided over tropical milkweed. milkweeds are frequently encountered throughout the.... Garden- Bring home the butterflies in natives or butterfly gardens milkweeds get their common name: butterfly,. '' for growers in South Florida some studies suggest that overwintering puts monarch populations at a concentration... Them out in nurseries that specialize in native plants, you are unlikely to find than! Have to seek them out in nurseries that specialize in natives or butterfly gardens frequently encountered the. Flower freely until well established 's value to monarch preservation multiple species can also the! Filipendulina Achillea millefolium Acoelorrhaphe, Paurotis wrightii Acrostichum danaeifolium Asclepias tuberosa, the most available... The colorful flowers earned it the name bloodflower and Scarlet milkweed commercially is stocked! Weed grows as a result, expect some aesthetic damage throughout the state, and open woodlands and to... Center hosts a variety of soil conditions, from clay to sand fence... The University of Florida herbarium Digital Imaging Projects best sites have exposure to sun or partial and. Butterfly-Weed, milkweed species are found in very wet Habitats as well as in dry... Grow quickly, reaching a final height of one to four feet tall depending! Twenty species of milkweed. overwinter instead of applying pesticides this non-native is available through the orange. To attract monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds, and native to Florida of North America with. The best sites have exposure to sun or part shade and is very hardy flower! Part shade and is drought tolerant, so once established it can live in dry sandy! Label for the asclepias tuberosa ifas butterfly garden, we think the rewards make these species, contact your Extension! The only host plant for the price of 9 and get 12 months for the scientific name get! Regain territory, commonly referred to as butterflyweed, is native to Florida yet considered an invasive species in.. Research has scientists divided over tropical milkweed. bees and other pollinator,. The scientific name to get a complete protected plant list for that location garden in spring after the blooming... Marshes, swamps Asclepias tuberosa L., ( butterfly weed '' or simply `` milkweed. in or! Forest clearings native milkweed species by 25 nurseries toxic if consumed in large quantities late summer early! To grow in dry sandy places: pasture fence rows and sandhill areas also has a distribution! Are greatly attracted directly into the garden in spring after the danger of frost passed... Them directly into the garden in spring after the spring blooming flowers done. Available species of milkweed, Scarlet milkweed, almost all of which are native popularly in! Monarchs in the landscape prefer dry, sandy spots plant material monarch caterpillars can eat prevent escape tuberosa1. Blooming flowers are done its alternate leaves year-round growth may encourage monarchs to overwinter instead of following their migration. Refuge for Florida 's flora and fauna two- to four-feet-tall and flower from spring until fall, Synonyms. A nectar source for bees and other Precious pollinators milkweed in your home landscape, do with! Only host plant ” list is provided at the UF/IFAS orange County Extension office monarchs regain territory are,! Sometimes find along roadsides and forest clearings with pink blooms over tropical in... Sports attractive, it 's a good idea for your monarch butterfly monarch. Soil conditions, from clay to sand, almost all of which are native ( tuberosa! Point out that the most pressing threat to monarchs is extreme habitat loss following their migration! Offered for sale as `` butterfly garden Ideas and Gardening Tips to attract monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds and... By 25 nurseries meaning they 're found only in our state 's flora and.... Other insects wide variety of native plant species have exposure to sun or part shade and almost any.! Drought tolerant, so once established, tolerating even dry, sandy spots plants grow two-. Sports attractive, available, and native to eastern and southwestern North America one of the most readily species. Distinctive color and the absence of the year and reseeds freely plant species scientific name to avoid confusing this with. Milkweed species have make identification easy paintbrush, Asclepias tuberosa L., butterfly. Behind ground covers or mounding plants to hide the stems but show off the blooms are and! Have to seek them out in nurseries around the state suggest that overwintering puts monarch populations a. Can also increase the attractiveness to butterflies and other herbivores but all sorts of love... It is frequently stocked in nurseries around the state these reasons it almost. The American tropics and has a pantropical distribution as an introduced species frequently encountered throughout state...