Asclepias tuberosa: Plant of the Year

The Perennial Plant Association recently named Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) its 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Asclepias tuberosa not only attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, but also provide long-lasting cut flowers.

The orange flowers of the perennial, a member of the milkweed family, are a source of nectar for butterflies and the leaves are a primary food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars. The species thrives in full-sun meadows or prairie gardens as well as formal to semi-formal urban gardens.