Milkweed Seeds - Butterfly Weed
(Asclepias tuberosa) Perennial.
Also known as Orange Milkweed, this native plant holds true to its name! Its beautiful orange flowers, and the nectar within, call to butterflies and hummingbirds from miles around, bringing life and pollinators into your garden. Butterfly weed leaves are a food source for Monarch Butterfly larvae.
*** All parts of the plant are harmful if swallowed. The sap inside the stems may cause skin irritation, so wear gloves when handling.
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Growth Habit: Bushy upright growth to 3 feet height, with branching, waxy stems, 5” heads of flowers. Perennial in zone 3-8; hardy annual to zone 3.
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, fertile, sandy soil
When to Plant: Sow seeds indoors 7-9 weeks before last Spring frost OR direct seed outdoors in Spring OR Fall
Stratification: Cold stratification will significantly improve germination. Chill seeds for 2 weeks at 4-10°C before sowing.
For more information on cold stratification, visit the Incredible Seeds Library.
How to Plant:
Direct sow: Sow seeds ¼” deep and cover only very lightly with soil. Seeds should germinate in 21-28 days. Thin young plants 1-2 feet apart.
Transplant: Sow seeds ¼” deep and cover only very lightly with soil. Seeds should germinate in 21-28 days. Transplant to individual containers when true leaves appear. Transplant young seedlings outside in Spring and space 1-2 feet apart.
When / How to Harvest: Harvest flower heads on long stems when at least half the flowers are open, from June until frost. Harvest seed heads after flowers have finished, before the pods split open.
Uses: The flowers and seed pods of Butterfly Weed are stunning cut for arrangements - fresh or dried.
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This is a great all around open pollinated flower variety, adaptable to any home flower garden.
You will be 100% satisfied with the quality of our Butterfly Weed Flower Seeds.
Available direct from Incredible Seeds, a Canadian Heirloom and Heritage Seed Company, offering only the best natural, non-GMO, open pollinated and untreated seeds, located in Nova Scotia, Canada.