




Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly milkweed is a bright orange flower that attracts butterflies and other pollinators. It grows in sunny places and has long, narrow leaves that look like little swords.
Habitat: Grasslands
The butterfly milkweed has clusters of vibrant orange to yellow-orange flowers that form flat-topped domes. Unlike many other milkweeds, its stems and leaves do not produce milky sap. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are usually bright green.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Its fluffy seeds are carried by the wind like tiny parachutes, traveling far distances!
Native Americans used its roots for medicine, even to treat various illnesses!
The flowers have tiny 'traps' to help insects carry pollen packets away!
Unlike other milkweeds, this one doesn't produce milky white sap!
Butterfly milkweed can feed monarch caterpillars, which are immune to its mild toxins, helping them grow into butterflies.
This plant has bright, clustered flowers that act as a visual target, attracting many different pollinators.
Butterfly milkweed produces seeds with silky parachutes that catch the wind, allowing them to spread far and wide.

Danaus plexippus
Larval host; caterpillars feed on leaves.
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Bombus impatiens
Large bees are effective pollinators.

Aphis nerii
Aphids feed on the plant's sap.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be harmful.
30-90 cm
30-60 cm
0.5-0.7 cm
Summer
No
Moderate
Perennial
Insect
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Illinois, US
You might spot White Mulberry, House Finch, and Scissor Grinder.
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Michigan, US
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, Wild Bergamot, and Turkey.
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Virginia, US
You might spot American Tuliptree and Japanese Snowball.
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Delaware, US
You might spot Garden Pansy, Southern Magnolia, and Low Pricklypear.
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Michigan, US
You might spot Large Maple Spanworm Moth and Turkey.
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Illinois, US
You might spot Canada Goose, Ring-Billed Gull, and Red-Winged Blackbird.
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