Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly flower (Asclepias tuberosa) is a bedding plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide.

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

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