Asclepias
Asclepias is a flower in the Apocynaceae family. It grows best in full sun with dry to medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-9. Plants reach maturity about 91–98 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
1 from True Leaf Market · sorted by days to maturity▸Butterfly Milkweed91–98 days
Non-GMO; Container; Perennial
91-98 Days to maturity. Asclepias tuberosa. Butterfly Milkweed Seeds. Perennial, non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated. Butterfly Weed Asclepias seeds invite perennial color into your home, patio, or garden. Asclepias flowers are easy to grow from seed and have wildflower-like hardiness that keeps them thriving in poor, dry, and rocky soils. Butterfly Weed seeds grow brilliant 12-36 inches tall weedy uprights with explosive clusters of golden orange blooms known as the food of choice for monarch butterflies and caterpillars. Butterfly Weed Asclepias seeds grow sun-hardy plants native to the rocky terrain of the eastern United States and are an ideal fit amongst any efficient, dry, or xeriscaped property. Approximately 4,000 Seeds/Ounce
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Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space asclepias about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your asclepias planting
Add asclepias to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators
Protection- Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
- Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Support monarchs on milkweed
Care- Routine careTolerate aphids; never spraymoderate evidence — extension confidence
Milkweed feeds monarch caterpillars and pollinators, so skip insecticides entirely. Oleander aphids look alarming but rarely harm the plant — knock them off with a water jet or wipe them off by hand and leave the rest for the butterflies.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your asclepiasand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.