Butterfly Milkweed Live Plants, Set of 4, 5-8″ Tall, Red Asclepias Tuberosa, Full Sun Perennial

Overview

Transform your garden into a pollinator paradise with this exquisite set of butterfly milkweed live plants. Each order includes four healthy, well-rooted plants, ranging from 5 to 8 inches in height, ready to be planted directly into your garden. Known scientifically as Asclepias tuberosa, this specific variety showcases stunning red-orange flowers, earning its common name, red milkweed for sale. Unlike other milkweed species, butterfly milkweed does not have milky sap, making it a unique and popular choice for home gardeners. These vibrant perennials are not only beautiful but also play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems, especially as a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Adding these plants to your landscape provides both aesthetic appeal and significant ecological benefits, creating a lively and colorful outdoor environment.

The butterfly milkweed live plants are an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a splash of color and life to their garden. Their striking blooms emerge from spring to late summer, offering a long season of interest. These plants are incredibly resilient and adapt well to various garden settings, making them suitable for borders, rock gardens, and naturalized areas. With their bright, cheerful flowers, they are guaranteed to draw attention and admiration, while also serving as an essential resource for pollinators. Invest in these beautiful and beneficial plants to enjoy a garden that is both visually appealing and environmentally conscious.

Key Benefits

Our butterfly milkweed live plants offer numerous advantages, making them an ideal addition to any garden. These plants are celebrated for their beauty and their vital ecological role:

• Pollinator Magnet: These plants are incredibly effective at attracting a wide array of pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and especially butterflies. The vibrant red-orange flowers provide a rich source of nectar, making your garden a bustling hub of activity.
• Monarch Host Plant: Asclepias tuberosa perennial is a critical host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. By planting these milkweeds, you provide a necessary habitat for monarch larvae, supporting their life cycle and contributing to monarch conservation efforts.
• Drought Tolerant: Once established, butterfly milkweed is highly drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering. This makes it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens and areas with drier climates, reducing the need for constant maintenance.
• Low Maintenance Perennial: These plants are incredibly easy to care for and require little attention once established. They return year after year, providing continuous beauty and ecological benefits without much effort.
• Vibrant Red Blooms: The striking red and orange flowers add a spectacular burst of color to any garden landscape. Their cheerful hues can brighten borders, create focal points, or enhance naturalized areas with their bold presence.
• Adaptable to Various Soils: While preferring well-drained soil, butterfly milkweed is quite adaptable and can thrive in a range of soil types, including sandy or rocky conditions, as long as drainage is adequate.
• Deer Resistant: Generally, deer tend to avoid milkweed plants, making them a good option for gardens in areas where deer browsing is a concern. Enjoy your beautiful blooms without worry.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your butterfly milkweed live plants is straightforward, ensuring a vibrant display and a thriving pollinator habitat. These plants are known for their resilience and adaptability, making them suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. For optimal growth and prolific blooms, plant your milkweed in a location that receives full sun exposure, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Adequate sunlight is crucial for strong stem development and abundant flowering. They are cold hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, allowing them to overwinter in a wide range of climates and return reliably each spring.

When it comes to watering, asclepias tuberosa perennial prefers well-drained soil and is quite drought-tolerant once established. Water regularly after planting to help the roots establish, but once mature, reduce frequency. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure the soil dries out between waterings. For soil needs, a well-drained soil is paramount. They can tolerate poor or sandy soils, but heavy clay soils should be amended with organic matter to improve drainage. Fertilization is generally not required for these hardy plants, especially if planted in reasonably fertile soil. However, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can promote more vigorous growth and blooming. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids; a strong stream of water or insecticidal soap can usually manage outbreaks without harming beneficial insects. These tips will help your attract butterflies garden flourish.

Size & Details

This offering includes a set of four healthy butterfly milkweed live plants, each standing between 5 to 8 inches tall. These plants are well-rooted and ready for immediate transplanting into your garden or larger containers. When mature, Asclepias tuberosa typically grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet and spreads about 1 to 2 feet wide, forming a beautiful clump of vibrant red-orange flowers. The plants are shipped in a nursery pot with soil, ensuring they arrive in optimal condition. Expect blooms to appear from late spring through late summer, providing a continuous display of color and a reliable food source for pollinators. The compact size of these young plants makes them easy to handle and establish, allowing them to quickly settle into their new environment and begin to grow towards their full, magnificent potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: Mature butterfly milkweed live plants typically reach a height of 1 to 3 feet and spread about 1 to 2 feet wide, forming a compact and vibrant clump in your garden.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The plants are shipped well-rooted in a nursery pot with soil, ready for transplanting. The exact pot size may vary slightly but is suitable for the plant’s current 5-8 inch height.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asclepias tuberosa perennial is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun conditions in garden beds, borders, or large outdoor containers.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: These plants require full sun exposure, meaning at least 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily, for the best growth and most abundant blooms.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, butterfly milkweed is known for being a low-maintenance perennial. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care, making it excellent for beginners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your red milkweed for sale will arrive as live, well-rooted plants, 5-8 inches tall, carefully packaged to ensure their health during transit.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Depending on when they are planted and their growth stage upon arrival, you can expect blooms from late spring through late summer, potentially in their first growing season.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, Asclepias tuberosa perennial is cold hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, meaning it will typically survive winter and return from its roots in spring in these regions.
• Q: Is this a host plant for monarch butterflies? A: Absolutely! Butterfly milkweed is a crucial host plant for monarchs, providing essential food for their caterpillars.
• Q: What type of soil is best for these plants? A: Well-drained soil is essential. It can tolerate sandy or poor soils but will not do well in heavy, waterlogged clay.