Complete Guide to Butterfly Weed - Grow and Care, Asclepias tuberosa

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This is a comprehensive video on how to Grow Butterfly Weed. Topics covered include:
- What is Butterfly Weed?
- Benefits of Butterfly Weed
- Butterflyweed growing conditions and care
- How to germinate Butterfly Weed Seed
- Wildlife attracted to Butterfly Weed
- Garden Uses of Butterfly Weed.

Butterfly Weed is a wildflower native to North America that looks great in a formal manicured flowerbed, or a wildflower garden / meadow. Butterfly Weed is almost irresistible to pollinators as well as a larval host for the Monarch Butterfly. Scientifically known as Asclepias Tuberosa, we will lay out a case as to why you need to grow Butterfly Weed!

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Article - Complete Guide to Butterfly Weed

Winter Sowing Guide - the easiest way to start these seeds...

Amazon link to seed:

How to Cold Moist Stratify seeds in the Refrigerator

Complete Guide to Winter Sowing

LIQUID FENCE! - It really works. Just follow the instructions to the letter. (affiliate link)

Also, if you want to expand your chance for Monarchs, consider growing Swamp Milkweed!

[shirleyandrews]

Fun fact: in the early days in America the women made lovely little capes by sewing EACH seed onto the fabric making a fluffy fur-like garment. I saw one in a museum. Those women had patience😻.

[prismatica]

I love how literally all my favorite flowers are natives.

[carmencortelyou]

I’ve grown butterfly weed for twenty years and it’s one of my favorites! It tolerates drought but does not like to be mulched — mulch will kill it, so keep it away from this plant and it’ll be fine. Also, if you pick the blooms, or deadhead, it will bloom a second time — you can still get seeds from the second blooming if your season is long enough. One more thing I learned is this: Even if monarch larvae eat most of the plant in the spring, it will regrow!

[shirleyandrews]

My B’weed is still blooming‼️my house (my town) was burned to the ground in the 2018 Camp Fire in CA. For almost 5 yrs the milkweed & 1 Salvia have come back every spring. There is NO WATER available yet. When I finally get my house rebuilt I’m planting LOTS of milkweed‼️THANK YOU for you great program & info.😻

[sandrarichardson]

Just bought some seed today and came online to find some guidelines in growing it. This is a superb video and comments are exceptional. Thanks for your help. Good camera work. Jesus bless.

[skaughtsman]

I saw this in the wild in Northern Utah, took a photo, and that led me to this video. Very cool. I'd like to grow this in my yard.

[gwennvorsaga]

Six dislikes how could this be.? Crazy people.... I have been watching so many videos on this subject recently as I am getting onboard with raising monarchs and this channel is by far hands down the absolute best most informative channel I have found! I am So glad I found you! You have saved me so much time on this endeavor. Thank you for this wonderful information and your wonderful channel. A new subscriber forever. Thank You

[threeriversforge]

One thing I've found to really help seeds grow and do well is to inoculate the potting soil you buy from a store with a cup of soil from your home. The ground that you have around the house is chock full of microbial life that you won't find in store-bought potting soil. So.... add a cup of your dirt to the potting soil and store it away just like you always would. This way, when your seeds can immediately start building a relationship with the microbial life, something folks don't often think about. A lot of the reason for the stunting seen in plants that go from potting tray to open ground is just them having to take time and try building the relationship between the root and the new-to-them soil biome.

Also, with tap roots, I've found it very beneficial to use a 12" masonry drill bit to drive a hole deep into the ground. Those little plants only have so much energy, so if they have to expend it trying to burrow down through the ground and establish themselves solidly.... that's less energy they have to make growth above ground and flower. Just like people, the less work we do, the more weight we'll put on. 😁

[klorraine]

I just rescued a chrysalis that was attached to a tomato in my garden. The tomato plant was beside some butterfly weed. The Monarch emerged in 3 days in my screened porch! So fascinating to observe! 🧡

[aileenc]

I am amazed with all the factual, consice information of the videos!

[bluebowser]

I bet this plant would look amazing paired up with blue cornflowers.

[george]

This is easily one of the top 3 gardening channels on YouTube!

[suesci]

Thank you for all of this information but especially for your method of removing the seed floss when opening the pods.

[Bpt]

What an uplifting video! Very informative. I am going to plant this at the top of my tallest hill where the butterflies can easily see it. Thank you very much for showcasing this beautiful plant.

[ewynkoopinWi]

I agree with you. The butterfly weed is perfect in so many ways. I love finding the volunteer seedlings in the spring and relocating them around my yard or sharing them with friends and family. The color is magnificent! Thanks for the video.

[reeintili]

How doesn't this dude have more subs?!!!?

[BayouChicGardening]

I grow this plant. It definitely attracts butterflies.

[veleriasingletary]

Thank you for sharing. I like you teaching method for each plant you discuss. You voice is very easy on the ears.

[pinlegouchin]

This is the first video that I’ve found that really teaches. Luv the lesson.
I’ve been trying to start a butterfly garden for the past 2 or so yrs

[shirleyk]

I have an indoor and outdoor butterfly enclosure. I raise monarch (inside) and swallowtail butterflies (outside). I bring plants to the caterpillars in the enclosures, feed them. They chrysalis and emerge as butterflies all in about a month. I've had over 2400 monarch caterpillars over 4 years. Over 300 Swallowtail butterflies over the past 2 years. Not all survive. I'd guess about 85 percent do. This is my hobby, while I try to help our pollinators population increase. It's very gratifying to see them emerge and release them. Thanks for this video.