Going Native
Grow Native Asclepias tuberosa By Cathy King, co-editor Sego Lily President, UNPS
It’s a brilliantly orange flowered plant native to Utah that can grow
Photo of Monarch butterfly on Asclepias tuberosaa by Janet Davis at the https://www.thepaintboxgarden.com/
as much as 40” high in the most hospitable conditions, but probably
38
shorter in a dryer, xeric garden bed.
Asclepias tuberosa is second to A.
If you are looking for that bright
speciosus when attracting the
punch of color that not only bees
Monarch butterfly and the two
love but is also attractive to
combined are even better. If you
Monarch butterflies, consider
can obtain seed, just direct sow in
adding Asclepias tuberosa,
the fall. But well developed plants
commonly known as butterfly
are available at local nurseries or
weed, to your xeric perennial
can be ordered online and can be
border. It flowers in early to mid-
planted out in the spring or fall.
June and quite often has a second
This spring is a perfect time to add
flush of flowers in late summer.
it to your garden.