About
Asclepias tuberosa Gay Butterflies Group is a herbaceous perennial characterized by its vertical stems adorned with slender green foliage. From mid to late summer, it produces clusters of vibrant flowers in shades of yellow, golden orange, pink, or red. This plant serves as a vital source of nourishment for butterflies.
About the genus
Asclepias consists of either evergreen or deciduous perennials and subshrubs. They feature simple, entire leaves and bear clusters of small flowers that have a unique shape, arranged in an umbel formation. After flowering, they produce paired fruits that contain seeds enveloped in silky fibers.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand, Clay, Chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Gravel garden, Sub-tropical
- Toxicity
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow outdoors in well-drained soil in full sun
- Pruning
- Cut back old growth in early winter or spring
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings or seed in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer/autumn
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free