Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
September 30, 2013 by staff
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa), Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to 0.3-1 metre (10 in-3 ft 3 in) 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. Hummingbirds, bees and other insects are also attracted.
Extracts were used by Native Americans 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.
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