butterfly weed

(Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior)

Conservation Status
butterfly weed
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Butterfly weed is a 12 to 36 tall, weakly erect, perennial herb. A single stem rises from a large, deep, thick, knobby, woody taproot. As the plant matures, it sends up multiple lateral stems from the taproot (tillers). Mature plants, with many flowering branches and multiple lateral tillers, appear bushy, round in form. The leaves and stems contain a watery, not milky, juice.

The stems are erect or ascending, stout, leafy, and densely covered with long, soft hairs. They are unbranched below and often form multiple branches near the top.

The leaves are alternate except just below the inflorescence, where they are opposite. They are numerous and crowded. They are 2 to 4 long, ¼ to 1 wide, narrowly lance-shaped, widest below the middle, and tapering gradually to the tip. They are attached to the stem on short, less that long, leaf stalks. The margins are untoothed and may be slightly rolled under. The upper surface is shiny and slightly hairy. The lower surface is more hairy and a lighter shade of green.

The inflorescence is 1 to several erect, umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels) at the end of the stem and rising from the upper leaf axils. The clusters are spherical, 2 to 4 in diameter, and are on a short stalk or no stalk at all. They typically have 6 to 25 flowers.

The structure of the typical milkweed flower is unique and instantly recognizable. There are 5 petals bent backward at the base and hanging downward. Subtending the petals are 5 much shorter, light green, lance-shaped sepals. There are 5 stamens. Formed from the filament of each stamen is a petal-like appendage. The appendage consists of a tubular hood surrounding an awl-shaped horn in the center of the hood. The stamens and the stigma are fused together into a crown-like structure (gynostegium). Each stigma has a long slit designed to catch the legs of a pollinating insect. A small, dark, sticky gland above this slit is attached to pollen sacs from adjacent anthers. These glands are designed to break off as an insect pulls its leg free of the slit, and remain attached to the insects leg. The flowers are pollinated by larger insects strong enough to lift off with the pollen sacs attached. Smaller insects are caught in a death trap or leave behind their detached legs.

The flowers of this plant are shaped like the typical milkweed flower. They are to tall and are attached on flower stalks that are up to ¾ long. The petals are pale orange to dark reddish orange. They bend backward at the base, hang downward, then curl upward near the tip. They are separated from the hoods by a distinct column. The hoods are the same color as the petals. The horns are shorter than the hoods. They project from the hoods and are curved inwards. The flowers are long-lasting and not fragrant.

The fruit is a narrow, spindle-shaped pod. It is 3 to 5 long and ½ to ¾ wide. It is held erect on a downward-curved stalk. It opens on one side exposing the seeds to spreading by the wind. The seeds have a tuft of white hairs at the tip.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

12 to 36

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Pale orange to dark reddish orange

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

This is the only milkweed in Minnesota with orange flowers.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies, upland woods. Full sun.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

July to September

 
     
 

Faunal Associations

 
 

Milkweeds are the only plants that Monarchs lay their eggs on. The eggs are laid on the underside of healthy young leaves.

 
     
 

Toxicity

 
 

This and other milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides and may be poisonous to both humans and livestock.

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  9/2/2022      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Gentianales (gentians, dogbanes, madders, and allies)  
 

Family

Apocynaceae (dogbane)  
  Subfamily Asclepiadoideae (milkweeds)  
  Tribe Asclepiadeae  
  Subtribe Asclepiadinae  
 

Genus

Asclepias (milkweeds)  
 

Species

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Asclepias tuberosa f. bicolor

Asclepias tuberosa f. flavescens

Asclepias tuberosa f. lutea

Asclepias tuberosa ssp. terminalis

Asclepias tuberosa var. flexuosa

Asclepias tuberosa var. interior

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

butterfly milkweed

butterfly weed

butterfly-weed

chiegerflower

chigger weed

orange milkweed

pleurisy root

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Axil

The upper angle where the leaf stalk meets the stem.

 

Gynostegium

A crown-like structure of plants of the genus Asclepias formed by the fusion of the anthers with the stigmas.

 

Linear

Long, straight, and narrow, with more or less parallel sides, like a blade of grass.

 

Tiller

In forbs, an aerial, more or less erect shoot arising from the base of a plant.

 

Umbel

A flat-topped or convex, umbrella-shaped cluster of flowers or buds arising from more or less a single point.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Nancy Falkum

 
 

Butterfly weed Asclapias tuberosa At TNC KWD Cox Unit

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    butterfly weed      
 

Gerry Garcia

 
 

Asclepias tuberosa

On the same hike around Normandale Lake this morning, this pretty, coral-colored Butterfly-weed was definitely open for business, but we saw no Monarchs or any other customers.

  butterfly weed  
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Male lemon cuckoo bumble bee on butterfly milkweed

 
    lemon cuckoo bumble bee      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Late spring

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
    butterfly weed      
           
 

Flowering plant

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
 

Fruiting plant

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
    butterfly weed      
           
 

Leaves

 
    butterfly weed      
           
 

Stem

 
    butterfly weed      
           
 

Infructescence

 
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
    butterfly weed   butterfly weed  
           
 

Seed

 
    butterfly weed      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)
Allen Chartier
 
  Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)  
  Asclepias tuberosa BUTTERFLY MILKWEED
Frank Mayfield
 
  Asclepias tuberosa BUTTERFLY MILKWEED  
  A. tuberosa
Joshua Mayer
 
  A. tuberosa  
 
About

Butterfly Milkweed

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Butterfly Weed - a world of butterflies
CTnaturalist
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 3, 2011

Butterfly weed attracts many species of butterfly to its orange flowers. Caterpillars are also found on the plant

   
  Asclepias tuberosa L. Butterfly Milkweed
John Ross
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 6, 2010

Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to 0.6-2 m (1 -2 feet) tall, with clustered orange or yellow flowers from early summer to early fall. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 5-12 cm long and 2-3 cm broad.

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. Butterfly Weed grows to be 1-3 feet long.

Extracts in herbalism and by Native Americans were used as an expectorant for wet coughs and other pulmonary ailments. Use of the herb is contraindicated in pregnancy, during lactation or with infants due to the small amount of cardiac glycosides.[1]

   
  Butterfly Weed video ( Asclepias tuberosa)
wvoutdoorman
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 26, 2012

Butterfly Weed ( Asclepias tuberosa)

   
  Nelson 2 Asclepias tuberosa.MP4
newenglandwild
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 2, 2010

New England Wild Flower Society Horticulture Intern Nelson discusses Asclepias tuberosa (buttterfly-weed) in Garden in the Woods' New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants

   
  Minnesota Native Plant - Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
MNNativePlants
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 7, 2013

This video shows the MN native plant, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa). A great plant for the native garden and one of the only true orange bloomers in the Minnesota native garden.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Nancy Falkum
6/26/2022

Location: Weaver Dunes Preserve, Cox Unit

Butterfly weed Asclapias tuberosa At TNC KWD Cox Unit

butterfly weed  
  Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

butterfly weed  
  Gerry Garcia
7/9/2019

Location: Normandale Lake

On the same hike around Normandale Lake this morning, this pretty, coral-colored Butterfly-weed was definitely open for business, but we saw no Monarchs or any other customers.

butterfly weed  
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/17/2016

Location: Joy Park

butterfly weed  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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