Butterfly Weed Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, grows about two feet tall with spiky stems carrying bracts of red buds that open orange. Seed pods can be used as everlastings. Also known as Pleurisy root.
Sow 1/8-1/4 inch deep. Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost after 2-3 weeks cold treatment in moist soil in the refrigerator. Seeds sprout in 14-30 days at 65-75F. Transplant around last frost 12-18 inches apart. Blooms mid to late summer, mostly in the second year.
Features
Attracts pollinators and beneficials
Long-lasting cut flower
Suits wildflower and cottage gardens
Life cycle: Perennial, Zones 3-8
Plant size: 20-24 inches tall by 18-24 inches wide
