Description
Butterfly Weed Seeds 6375.
Vibrant Orange Native Flower Clusters for Monarchs and Drought-Tolerant Sun Borders.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), also known as Butterfly Milkweed, is a brilliant Canadian native perennial celebrated for its intense, fiery-orange flower clusters measuring 10 cm across. Blooming continuously from June through September, this bushy, mounded plant reaches 60 cm in height and acts as an irreplaceable magnet for Monarch butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds. Deep-rooted, exceptionally heat- and drought-tolerant, and virtually maintenance-free once established, it is a quintessential addition to native plant gardens, sunny borders, and meadow restoration projects. Cold-hardy down to Zone 3, it thrives in dry, lean, well-drained soils where other perennials struggle.
Quick Seed Details
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Product Code: 6375
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Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
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Type: Native Canadian Perennial
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Hardiness: Zone 3
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Height: 60 cm
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Flower Cluster Size: 10 cm across
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Bloom Time: June through September
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Light Requirement: Full Sun
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Soil Preference: Poor to average, sharply well-drained soil (Thrives in dry, sandy, or rocky conditions)
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Germination: 10–20 days at 20°C (Benefits from winter cold stratification)
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Seed Count: Approx. 30 seeds per packet (125 seeds per gram)
What you need to know to Plant & Grow
Butterfly Weed seeds possess natural seed coat dormancy that responds exceptionally well to cold winter stratification.
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Outdoor Direct Sowing (Recommended): Direct sow seed outdoors in mid-October (dormant fall seeding). Overwintering naturally stratifies the dormant seeds, waking them up for uniform, vigorous spring germination.
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Indoor Sowing: Start seeds indoors in a quality soilless starter mix in early March for potential late-summer blooms in the first year. Maintain a soil temperature of 20°C for the 10 to 20 day germination period. Move sprouted seedlings under grow lights at a cooler temperature of 15°C before hardening off and transplanting outdoors after spring frost danger has passed.
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Garden Spacing & Care: Plant in full sun and sharply well-drained soil. Space plants 30 to 45 cm apart. Avoid moving or dividing established plants, as they develop a long, deep taproot that provides outstanding drought resistance.
Why Butterfly Weed Seeds belong in Your Garden
If you want to support native Monarch butterfly populations while adding brilliant, low-maintenance orange colour to sunny garden beds, Butterfly Weed is an unbeatable staple. Its native Canadian hardiness, supreme drought tolerance, and long summer bloom window make it an essential centerpiece for low-water landscapes across the country.
