Milkweeds are the sole host plant for monarch butterflies. True to its name, butterfly weed has bright orangey-red flowers that butterflies love! The leaves are narrow and dark green, and it has a very deep taproot that makes this plant highly drought tolerant. Butterfly weed will thrive in drier, well-drained soil, and it’s also deer resistant. It also forms more of a bush shape as it matures, and it doesn’t spread via its root system like the common milkweed, making it a bit more compact.
Container size: 1-gal
Sun: Full Sun
Moisture: Dry to Medium moist
Maximum height: 2’
Maximum Spread: 1.5’-3’ (does not spread via rhizomes like common milkweed, but it may spread via seed)
Maine Native
Photo by Derek Ramsey
Milkweeds are the sole host plant for monarch butterflies. True to its name, butterfly weed has bright orangey-red flowers that butterflies love! The leaves are narrow and dark green, and it has a very deep taproot that makes this plant highly drought tolerant. Butterfly weed will thrive in drier, well-drained soil, and it’s also deer resistant. It also forms more of a bush shape as it matures, and it doesn’t spread via its root system like the common milkweed, making it a bit more compact.
Container size: 1-gal
Sun: Full Sun
Moisture: Dry to Medium moist
Maximum height: 2’
Maximum Spread: 1.5’-3’ (does not spread via rhizomes like common milkweed, but it may spread via seed)
Maine Native
Photo by Derek Ramsey
