Asclepias tuberosa
The genus name Asclepias is named after the Greek god of medicine Asklepios. This plant favors dry, sand or gravel soil. commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar. Butterfly weed is commonly planted in formal garden borders and in meadow and prairie gardens. This wildflower does not transplant well as it has a deep woody taproot. It is easily propagated from seed. Collect the seed from the pods has they just begin to open. Butterfly weed seed need a three-month cold stratification. Therefore, it is best to plant the seed in autumn and they will easily germinate the following spring.
''Asclepias tuberosa'' is a species of milkweed native to eastern North America. It is a perennial plant growing to 0.3–1 metre 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.
