Butterfly Weed

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Asclepias

Species: A. tuberosa

Identifying characteristics:

- The magnificent bright orange flowers are concentrated in compact clusters at the top of branching stems

- 12-24 in tall

- The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 5-12 cm long and 2-3 cm broad.

- It has hairy stems that are not milky when broken.

Special Adaptations:

-This plant favors dry, sand or gravel soil, but has also been reported on stream margins.

-It requires full sun.

-It is commonly known as Butterfly Weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar. It is also the larval food plant of the Queen and Monarch butterflies.