Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) is a bedding plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa).

This plant has several common names including: butterfly flower, butterfly root, butterfly weed, chieger flower, flux root, Indian paintbrush, Indian potato, orange root, pleurisy root, swallow root, tuber root, white root, wind root or windward root.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: butterfly flower, butterfly root, butterfly weed, chieger flower, flux root, Indian paintbrush, Indian potato, orange root, pleurisy root, swallow root, tuber root, white root, wind root, windward root
Scientific name: Asclepias tuberosa
Plant type: Bedding, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Sub-tropical, Wildflower meadow
Planting type: Cut Flowers, Flower borders and bedding

Seasonal colors

How to plant Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) – SterlingHerron, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bedding plants are ideal for formal or informal flower beds, but also for growing in pots and containers of all kinds. They are important plants for their rapid growth, instant color and relatively low cost.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in clay, loam or sand.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or alkaline.

Regarding drainage, Asclepias tuberosa likes to grow in well drained soil.

Sunlight

Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) – SterlingHerron, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons