This week’s Plant of the Week is Ascelapius tuberosa.

Plant Profile: Ascelapius tuberosa

Common Names: Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Butterfly bush, orange Sallow-Wort.

Family: Apocynaceae

Category:  Perennial

Height/Spread:  1-3ft H

Growing Habit:  Slow grower; Tall plant with a bushy appearance.

Foliage and Flower Characteristics: Leaves are mostly alternate and between 1 – 2″ in length topped by large, flat clusters of brightly colored flowers. The clusters can be 2 -5″ across and are usually yellow-orange in color. This plant produces copius amounts of nectar and are a great food source for Monarch Butterflies. Unlike the Common Milkweed, this variety produces no milky sap.  However, take care to wear gloves when pruning or removing dead/diseased parts.

This variety is not favored for Monarch larvae as it does not contain enough glycoside that will make the larvae distasteful to predators. It is however, an excellent source of nectar for Monarchs, hummingbirds, Bumblebees, Fritillaries, and honey bees.

Care Requirements

Bloom Time:  May – September

Hardiness Zone: 3a – 9b

Light/Soil/Water Requirements:  Full sun. Prefers well draining sandy soil, but can be planted in well draining clay. Soil should be moist to dry and it can tolerate drought conditions.

It can take 2-3 years for the plant to become fully established and although it does spread by stolons, it is not considered invasive.  If you need to transplant do so in early spring or fall for best chances of survival

Fertilization: Organic, slow release fertilizer is best.

Propagation: Root cutting. The easiest method of propagation is root cuttings. In the fall, cut the taproot into 2-inch sections and plant each section vertically, keeping the area moist.

Seed. Plant produces 4″ greenish-gray pods and can be propagated by seed. Pods can be removed to stop seeding.  Watch plants closely for seedpods in late summer/early fall. Allow seeds to completely mature before collecting seed to establish new plants in another location. The pod produced contains hundreds of seeds with tufts of long, silky hairs (an adaptation for wind dispersal).

Pests:  Aphids.