Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Resources
  • Organizations & Blogs
  • Archives
  • Contact

A. tuberosa – Perennial Plant of 2017

October 19, 2016

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has been chosen Perennial Plant of 2017 by the American Perennial Plant Association.
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has been chosen Perennial Plant of 2017 by the American Perennial Plant Association.

The American Perennial Plant Association has announced their 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year:  Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa). This is a good thing, of course, for native plant enthusiasts.  Now garden centers and big box stores will carry this native species in response to the anticipated demand for the Perennial Plant of the Year. This sounds like a win-win for monarch butterflies – Yeh! More habitat! But, there is a big “however.”

Slide from Wild Ones Wild for Monarchs PPT. Photo courtesy of Monika Maekle's "Texas Butterfly Ranch" blog.
Slide from Wild Ones Wild for Monarchs PPT. Photo courtesy of Monika Maekle’s “Texas Butterfly Ranch” blog.

 

 

First and foremost, both the buyers and sellers are going to have to be diligent about making certain the plants have not been grown using systemic insecticides.

Second, many perennial gardeners may not realize the number of  insects that use this plant (aphids, ants, beetles, tussock moth caterpillars, bees and wasps — just to name a few) or that it is susceptible to mildew.

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) shown here with an Eastern Black Swallowtail is used by a variety of insects throughout the year.
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) shown here with an Eastern Black Swallowtail is used by a variety of insects throughout the year.

Third, buyers will need to read the label regarding planting conditions carefully. Butterflyweed likes to grow in well-drained soils. It is definitely picky about its growing conditions.

It will take a big effort on the part of monarch butterfly enthusiasts everywhere to educate the non-native plant gardeners about how to maintain this milkweed as appropriate habitat for female monarchs and their larva. Good luck to us all!

   Send article as PDF   

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Signup button.

Recent Posts

  • OVER-THE-COUNTER NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • WOFVA’s NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)
  • Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees
  • Native Landscaping Design

Category Archives

  • Biodiversity
    • Monarchs
    • Pollinators
  • Birds
  • Climate Change
  • Events
  • Fire
  • Funding
  • Garden and Landscape Design
  • Heroes
  • Homestead
    • Recipe
  • Invasive Plants
  • Native plant garden design
  • Native Plants
  • Natural Landscaping
  • Prairie
  • Public Comment Opportunity
  • Railroad
  • The Sky
  • Wellbeing
  • Wetlands
  • Wildflowers
    • Trees & Shrubs
  • Wildlife
    • Wolves
  • Wisconsin
  • Women
  • Woodlands

Copyright 2005-2018
Donna VanBuecken