Specimen record
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Description
A striking milkweed with vivid orange flowers that is unusual among milkweeds in having clear (not milky) sap. It grows on dry, well-drained roadsides and open fields. Butterfly weed is an important nectar source for butterflies and a host plant for monarch caterpillars, though less commonly used than common milkweed. The deep taproot makes this plant drought-tolerant but difficult to transplant.
Identification tips
- 1Bright orange flower clusters (unlike the pink/purple of other milkweeds)
- 2Clear watery sap, not milky white (unique among milkweeds)
- 3Alternate leaves (most milkweeds have opposite leaves) — narrow, lance-shaped
- 4Hairy stems, often multiple stems from the base
- 5Grows in dry, sunny, well-drained sites along roads and in sandy meadows
Specimen & preservation notes
Press flowering stems with open flowers. Orange color preserves well when dried. Include developing seed pods if available. No milky sap to deal with, making pressing easier than other milkweeds.
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
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Collection notes
Season check
Observed bloom also extends into June and August.
Flowering records: 449 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 313 observations within 25 km