Orange Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) boasts juicy, bright orange blooms that attract pollinators all summer long. Clusters of flowers are held upright on strong stems, serving nectar and pollen on a silver platter. Not only does it cater to Monarchs, but it is frequently visited by Black and Zebra Swallowtails, Sleeping Orange, Fritillary butterflies, and much more. The blooms last for over three months, and when they finish, crescent-shaped seed pods take their place.
Milkweeds, including Orange Milkweed, are essential for the Monarch lifecycle. Their relationship includes more than just swapping nectar for pollination. Caterpillars exclusively feed on their leaves, which are filled with cardenolides. Cardenolides are stored in the bodies of Monarch caterpillars and butterflies as a defense against predators. Without Milkweed, we wouldn't have Monarchs!
Vital details:
Plant size: 1-2' tall x 1-1.5' wide
Light: full sun (6+ hrs/day)
Water: Dry to medium moisture
Hardiness: USDA zone 3-9 (Find your hardiness zone)
Pollinator value: attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and is the host plant for Monarchs
Notable features: fragrant, great cut flowers, long-blooming, deer resistant, multiple seasons of interest, low maintenance
Pot size: one quart
Plant name: Asclepias tuberosa
Tuberosa grows very thick, allowing butterflies to lay eggs and the eggs remain better protected. Baby caterpillars seem to like it less but bigger caterpillars eat the thick leaves right up.
The plants arrived at the correct time for planting in my zone. They were in very good condition. They produced abundant blooms which resulted in many seed pods. This is absolutely the easiest plant I have grown.
The two plants arrived barely alive, I followed the care directions and one died, the other is hanging on. I don’t really feel I got my money’s worth.
Hello! We apologize you received your plants not up to our standards. As we try our best to provide exceptional service, some factors like shipping and handling are outside of our control, and issues like this can sometimes happen. Please email pictures of the plant to customerservice@butterflybushes.com, making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we do have a 60-day guarantee on all of our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we will be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
Plants arrived in good condition and in a timely fashion
My plant has not done well. In effect, it may be dying.
Hello! We're sorry to hear that you're having trouble with your Milkweed. Our customer service team is always available to help out with any questions you may have and all of our plants are backed by our 60-day guarantee! Please email pictures of the plant to claims@greatgardenplants.com, making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we will be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!