How to Grow Butterfly Weed to Attract Butterflies, Bees, and Other Pollinators

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a vibrant, low-maintenance native plant that supports pollinators in the garden. It's part of the milkweed family, and, like its relatives, it "supports a whole cast of colorful species," says Santino Lauricella, education manager at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve.

And while butterfly weed is relatively easy to grow, there are still a few important tips and tricks you need to know before you plant one. Here, we spoke to experts about how to grow butterfly weed—and how to ensure that this wonderful perennial thrives.

Why Gardners Love It

Butterfly weed’s standout orange flowers bloom from early summer to fall, attracting hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies—including monarchs, which rely on milkweeds as larval host plants. “Without these plants, the butterflies couldn’t survive,” says Lauricella.

Butterfly weed doesn't just provide nectar for adult butterflies—it’s also an essential food source for their young, says Lisa Kuder, native plants and landscapes specialist at the University of Maryland Extension. Monarch caterpillars can only survive on milkweed leaves, and they’ve coevolved with milkweed to tolerate its toxic cardiac glycosides.

Kuder notes that the plant maintains a tidy, upright structure throughout the growing season, usually topping out at two feet tall. So it's ideal for containers, garden beds, and near walkways.

As an added bonus, butterfly weed is also (mostly) deer-resistant.

Planting

How you plant your butterfly weed is an important part of its future success. “Once established, this plant will grace your garden for many years, growing thicker and more abundant with time,” says Lauricella.

What to Plant

Experts recommend choosing native butterfly weed species, rather than cultivars. “When we use cultivars, we may not be providing the proper resources for insect communities to thrive,” Lauricella says. “The insects might not recognize that plant as food because of the changes made when it was cultivated.”

When to Plant

Butterfly weed is best planted in fall or spring. Because it has a long taproot, it doesn’t transplant easily—establishing it early gives roots time to grow deep.

Kuder says that cool air, rain, and shorter growing days in fall are ideal for vigorous root growth.

How to Plant

To plant, dig a hole twice as wide as the container and about as deep. Loosen the root ball gently, place it in the hole, backfill it with soil, and thoroughly water it.

Dense plantings and layering reduce maintenance and weed pressure. “Living mulch, like shade-tolerant sedges, is a great solution," says Kuder.

How to Care for It

Lauricella says butterfly weed is a relatively hardy plant and requires little upkeep. However, there are still a few important steps that you should note.

Watering

Water deeply after planting, then sparingly after that. Butterfly weed prefers dry conditions, says Kuder.

Soil

Butterfly weed thrives in lean, well-draining soils. “It does not grow well in rich soil with high concentrations of organic matter,” Kuder warns.

Sunlight

Full sun is essential. Aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer may work for other plants, but according to Kuder, this plant is best left unfertilized.

Pruning

Pruning butterfly weed isn't necessary. “It's lovely year-round, and you don’t want to inadvertently kill the butterflies and moths that hopefully laid their eggs on the underside of the leaves,” says Kuder.

Letting these plants go to seed will ensure a healthy population in the future and provide necessary food for birds like chickadees, finches, and quail during the fall and winter.

Growing in Containers

Growing butterfly weed in pots is possible, but not if the pots are shallow. According to Lauricella, you’ll need a container at least one to two feet deep to accommodate the taproot. “Asclepias have a deep tap root, so it is preferable to plant them in the ground,” he notes.

How to Propagate

Butterfly weed can be propagated by root cuttings or seed. For root division, cut sections of the taproot into two-inch pieces in the fall and keep them moist.

For seed propagation, cold stratification is key. Kuder says butterfly weed needs 30 days in cold soil before germinating. Fall sowing allows for natural stratification, or you can mimic the process by refrigerating seeds for a month.

Once indoor-grown seedlings sprout, harden them off before transplanting them outdoors.

Pests and Problems

Butterfly weed may attract oleander aphids—bright, yellow-orange insects that feed on plant sap. Despite their appearance, they’re not usually a problem.

“In most cases, it’s not necessary to treat aphids, as many control methods can harm the beneficial insects that gardeners aim to promote, such as the monarch,” Lauricella says. Gently squishing aphids may be the best pest management system for butterfly weed, as it poses almost no risk to other insects.

“Ladybugs and other beneficial insects will often keep aphids in check,” Kuder adds.

Did You Know?

Butterfly weed is a wonderful, beneficial plant with a long history. Here are a few things you may not already know about it.

It Isn't Actually a Weed

It's called a “weed,” but that’s a misnomer. “Truthfully, the term weed just refers to a plant that's out of place, or not where the gardener wants it,” says Lauricella.

It's Different From Butterfly Bush

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is often confused with butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), but the two are unrelated. Butterfly weed is a native host plant to all sorts of pollinators, while butterfly bush is non-native, invasive in some places, and not helpful to pollinators.

It Makes Monarch Butterflies Toxic to Predators

Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed species. The caterpillars eat the leaves, storing toxins that protect them from predators after they turn into butterflies.

Its Flowers Aren't Just for Butterflies

Despite the name, butterflies aren’t the primary pollinators for this plant. “Large-bodied bees and wasps are the most common and effective pollinators, despite the name,” Lauricella says.

You Can Make Fiber From It

Kuder says that dried stems of butterfly weed can be turned into cord, rope, or even cloth.

It Gets Its Genus Name From Its Medicinal Past

The plant’s genus is named for Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. Historically called “pleurisy root,” butterfly weed was used by Indigenous tribes and settlers to treat respiratory ailments, sore throats, wounds, and more.

“Essentially, we have a pharmacy in our own backyards,” says Kuder. “It’s a compelling case for conserving native plants."