Butterfly weed

>

USDA Zones: 4 - 10Light: sunHeight: 2 to 4 feet Width: 10 to 24 inches Flower Colors: bright reds, yellows, oranges Bloom Time: late spring

- summer Special Features: Attracts Butter flies Attracts Hummingbirds Beds/Borders Cut Flowers Cutting Deer Resistant Easy to Grow Flowers Good for Drying Prairie Showy Flowers Showy Foliage Showy Seed heads/Fruit Showy Seedheads/Fruit/Berries Tolerates Drought Tolerates SaltU.S. NativeUS Native/Wildflower Companion Plants: Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Butterflies will flock to your garden when when you add the appropriately-named butterfly weed. Its clusters of orange, yellow, pink, and vermillion flowers appear in mid- to late summer, and are followed by thin, ornamental seed pods. Butterfly weed can reach 1 to 3 feet in height and is slow to emerge in the spring so mark its location well. Fairly drought-resistant, butterfly weed grows in many conditions except in soil that is wet or has lots of clay. It's a durable plant that is not susceptible to many pests or disease. Notable Varieties'Gay Butterflies' is a pleasing mix of colors.'Hello Yellow' bears yellow blooms.CareLikes average to poor soil with good drainage; fairly drought-tolerant. Mulch to prevent disease. Avoid fertilizing. Cut flowers freelyit often encourages a second bloom. Make sure plants are well-marked in fall as they appear later than other perennials. Don't bother dividing; plants have a long, brittle tap root that usually doesn't survive division.PlantingPlant nursery seedlings in spring; or sow seeds directly in the garden. Space 15 inches apart. Established plants do not transplant well.