Southwest Plant of the Month – Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa

Oct 24, 2019 | Plant of the Month

Plant Form: Flower
Plant Size: 2’ X 2’
Plant Type: Perennial
Water: Low
Sunlight: Sun, Partial Shade
Colors: Orange, Yellow

Physical Description: Brilliantly colored, 3″ clusters of orange to yellow flowers favored by butterflies, atop thick erect stems with narrow gray-green leaves. Milky sap.
Care and Maintenance: Very difficult to transplant. Re-sprouts late in spring. Aphids.
Gardener’s notes: Deep taproot promotes drought tolerance. Cultivars available with bi-color flowers in shades of cream and red.

Southwest Plant of the Month material courtesy of NMSU ACES
http://desertblooms.nmsu.edu/plantadvisor/