Pollinator plant

Butterfly milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

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Common names

42 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
+20 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (18)
Dutch
French
  • asclépiade tubéreuse[2][3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 柳叶马利筋[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 柳葉馬利筋[3]
Czech
  • klejicha hlíznatá[3]
Danish
  • orange silkeplante[3]
Estonian
  • mugul-askleepias[3]
Finnish
  • karvasilkkiyrtti[3]
German
  • Knollige Seidenpflanze[2][3]
Hebrew
  • אסקלפיאס טוברוזה[3]
Hungarian
  • Gumós Selyemkóró[3]
Japanese
  • ヤナギトウワタ[3]
Mvskoke
  • tvffo em ohliketv[3]
Polish
  • Trojeść bulwiasta[3]
Russian
  • Ваточник клубненосный[3]
Slovak
  • glejovka hľuznatá[3]
Spanish
Ukrainian
  • Ваточник бульбистий[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Asclepias tuberosa — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Butterfly Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Butterfly Weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Chiggerflower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Common Butterfly-weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Indian Paintbrush — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Milkweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Pleurisy Root — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Asclepias tuberosa.
[2] Asclepias tuberosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • butterfly milkweed — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Knollige Seidenpflanze — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterfly love — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterfly weed — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterflybush — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterflyweed — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Canada root — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • chieger flower — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • chiggerflower — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • fluxroot — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Indian posy — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange glory flower — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange milkweed — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange root — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange swallow-wort — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • pleurisy root — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • silky swallow-wort — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • tuber root — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • white-root — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • windroot — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • yellow milkweed — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Algodoncillo inmortal — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • inmortal — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • asclépiade tubéreuse — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Knolzijdeplant — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
[3] Asclepias tuberosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • butterfly milkweed — results[6].names[2]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Knollige Seidenpflanze — results[6].names[31]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterfly love — results[6].names[26]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterfly weed — results[6].names[6]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterflybush — results[6].names[27]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • butterflyweed — results[6].names[3]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Canada root — results[6].names[12]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • chieger flower — results[6].names[13]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • chiggerflower — results[6].names[14]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • fluxroot — results[6].names[15]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Indian posy — results[6].names[16]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange glory flower — results[6].names[30]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange milkweed — results[6].names[17]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange root — results[6].names[18]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange swallow-wort — results[6].names[19]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • pleurisy root — results[6].names[20]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • silky swallow-wort — results[6].names[21]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • tuber root — results[6].names[22]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • white-root — results[6].names[24]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • windroot — results[6].names[25]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • yellow milkweed — results[6].names[23]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Algodoncillo inmortal — results[6].names[1]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • inmortal — results[6].names[4]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • asclépiade tubéreuse — results[6].names[7]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Knolzijdeplant — results[6].names[29]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • mugul-askleepias — results[6].names[8]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • klejicha hlíznatá — results[6].names[9]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Ваточник клубненосный — results[6].names[10]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • ヤナギトウワタ — results[6].names[11]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • orange silkeplante — results[6].names[28]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Trojeść bulwiasta — results[6].names[32]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Gumós Selyemkóró — results[6].names[33]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • karvasilkkiyrtti — results[6].names[34]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • 柳叶马利筋 — results[6].names[35]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • אסקלפיאס טוברוזה — results[6].names[36]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • 柳葉馬利筋 — results[6].names[37]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • glejovka hľuznatá — results[6].names[38]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • tvffo em ohliketv — results[6].names[39]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
  • Ваточник бульбистий — results[6].names[40]; taxon id 47912; Asclepias tuberosa.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Asclepias tuberosa is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Apocynaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Prostrate

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
SE. Canada to N. Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Asclepias tuberosa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4860062; ID H6RF; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4860062; ID H6RF; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Asclepias tuberosa — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Asclepias tuberosa — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 445363; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 692406, 692407, 692408, 692409, 692410, 692411, 692412, 692413, 692414, 692415, 692416, 692417, 692418, 692419, 692420, 692421, 692422, 692423, 692424, 692425, 692426, 692427, 692428, 692429, 692430, 692431, 692432, 692433, 692434, 692435, 692436, 692437, 692438, 692439, 692440, 692441, 692442, 692443, 692444, 692445, 692446, 692447, 692448, 692449, 692450

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.