Butterfly Milkweed

The plant blooms out in a sort of star-spangled banner type display. At the top of the stem, there is a myriad of tiny flowers colored in a watercolor-like light purple. They also bloom in most other colors of the spectrum. You can find the plant blooming in yellow, orange, green, and pink. To propagate themselves, these plants develop a seed pod that drys and then in the fall splits open to spread hundreds of seeds. 

Depending on the type of plant, it can grow from 2-5 feet in height. It grows in zones 3 -9. This plant attracts the usual pollinating insects such as bees, hummingbirds, and especially Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies love this plant because it is their main food source and also it supplies a secure place for the female to spread her eggs, mostly on the underside of the leaves. 

These plants are fast spreading so give them plenty of room in your garden. They like from 6 to 8 hours of sunshine. A good place in the garden is where they are somewhat protected from the wind so that you can control the spread of the seeds. This helps prevent the plant from taking over your garden. This also provides a safe haven for the Monarchs. 

 Most Butterfly Milkweed plants do well in just about any soil. The exception is the Swamp weed, it requires soil that is moist and humus. Plant them in a well-cultivated flowerbed that has been worked to a fine mix. Add the recommended amount of fertilizer for an average soil mix. There is no real special care to the soil. Sow the seeds and tamp the soil. Water the flower bed and wait.