Meet Wisconsin’s Favorite Native Star: Orange Butterfly Milkweed!
Get Ready for a Blaze of Beauty! Hey Green Thumbs and Garden Enthusiasts of Reedsburg! Pam’s Greenhouses is absolutely buzzing about a plant that’s not just gorgeous, but a true powerhouse for our local wildlife: the incredible Orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)!
If you’re looking to add a blaze of fiery color that lasts all season, you’ve found your match! This native beauty erupts with flat-topped clusters of starry orange flowers – sometimes peachy yellow or deep auburn – that absolutely electrify your garden. But it’s not just a pretty face! This plant is a vital lifeline:
Monarch Central
You know those amazing Monarch butterfly caterpillars? They literally only eat milkweeds! Plant this, and you’re rolling out the red carpet for the next generation of these iconic orange beauties!
More Than Monarchs! According to the National Wildlife Federation, up to a DOZEN species of butterflies and moths, like the stunning Cecropia Silkmoth and the charming Isabella Tiger Moth, also rely on milkweed as caterpillar food! Talk about a buffet!
Easy Breezy
Orange Butterfly Milkweed is a dream for sunny spots. It thrives in traditional gardens, water-wise landscapes, or prairie plantings, happy with full sun and minimal water. Plus, it forms lovely 2-foot-tall clumps that faithfully return year after year!
Ready to turn your garden into a pollinator paradise and a vibrant haven? We’ve got Orange Butterfly Milkweed ready for its new home!
And don’t forget its amazing native runner-ups!
While Orange Butterfly Milkweed takes the crown, let’s give a shout-out to some other fantastic native plants that love Wisconsin as much as we do:
Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina)
Imagine fragrant, single pink blooms with a rich golden center that native bees adore! Over 100 species of butterflies and moths use native roses for caterpillar food (hello, songbird snacks!), and the bright red rosehips are a winter treat for birds. Just remember, this beauty loves to spread its wings, so give it plenty of room to shine!
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Delicate and lovely, this milkweed features creamy, sometimes green-tinged, starry white flower clusters. Bees flock to it, and its soft, willowy leaves are another feast for those hungry caterpillars. Growing up to 2 feet tall, it’s perfect for full to part sun and moderately moist to dry soils.
Learn more about growing milkweed and native plants:
HGTV.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/flowers/growing-milkweed-plant-butterfly-weed
