Milkweed and Butterfly Weed plants are pollinator magnets, beloved by Monarch butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. These hardy perennials bring bright summer color, fragrant blooms, and critical wildlife support to gardens across North America.
Gardeners searching for Milkweed plants for sale at Nature Hills will find dazzling options! From bold orange flowers to swamp-loving selections, to unique cultivars of the hardy natives.
Named for the milky sap that exudes from the stems and leaves, Milkweeds' showy clusters of nectar-rich blooms, drought-tolerant roots, and a native plant pedigree make them essential for sustainable landscapes!
- Landscaping Uses
- Care & Maintenance
- Types of Milkweed & Butterfly Weed at Nature Hills
- A Pollinator's Paradise
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) are close cousins, but they stand apart in a few key ways.
Butterfly Weed is best known for its colorful orange, red, yellow, and or white blooms, drought-tolerant nature, and lack of milky sap, which makes it tidier and less messy than Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
Milkweed varieties, on the other hand, often have pink, white, or purple flowers, taller growth, and that signature latex-like sap.
Both are critical host plants for Monarch butterflies, but Butterfly Weed tends to fit better in formal and more xeric garden beds, while Milkweed thrives in wilder, meadow-style plantings. Swamp Milkweeds resemble a cross between both types and tend to thrive in areas with higher moisture access.
Landscaping Uses
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Pollinator Gardens - Adding Butterfly Weed or Milkweed plants to your garden not only beautifies beds and borders but also provides Monarch caterpillars with vital host foliage. This makes them one of the most important perennials for butterfly gardens, pollinator pathways, and eco-friendly yards. Plus, they are a nectar source for native bees, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects.
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Wildflower Meadows - Mix with Black-Eyed Susan's, Purple Coneflower, and native grasses for a natural prairie garden effect.
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Borders & Beds - Bright orange, pink, and yellow blooms stand out in sunny perennial borders.
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Rain Gardens - Swamp Milkweed thrives in damp soil, making it ideal for rain gardens or pond edges.
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Cut Flower Gardens - Long-lasting blooms of Cinderella and Soulmate add color to fresh bouquets.
- Container Gardens - Compact cultivars like Whorled Milkweed and Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed adapt to large pots and patio container gardening displays.
Care & Maintenance
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Sunlight - Full sun is best, though some varieties tolerate light shade.
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Soil - Well-drained, xeric soil for Butterfly Weed; consistently moist soil for Swamp Milkweed.
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Watering - Drought-tolerant once established, but young plants need regular moisture.
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Pruning - Deadhead spent blooms to encourage rebloom and prevent excessive self-seeding.
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Winter Prep - Leave stems standing until spring to provide winter shelter for pollinators.
- Wildlife Support - Expect Monarch caterpillars to eat foliage - that's the purpose!
Types of Milkweed & Butterfly Weed at Nature Hills
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Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - Upright with fragrant pinkish-purple flower clusters, highly attractive to Monarchs.
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Swamp Milkweed Flower (Asclepias incarnata) - Perfect for moist soils, fragrant blooms in summer.
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Milkmaid Swamp Milkweed - White blooms, compact habit, excellent for rain gardens.
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Soulmate Swamp Milkweed - Romantic, rosy-pink flowers with a vanilla scent.
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Cinderella Butterfly Weed - Tall, elegant stems topped with soft pink blossoms.
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Incarnata Pink Milkweed - Classic pink flowers, great for naturalized settings.
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Green Beauty Milkweed - Unique green-flushed blooms, striking in wildflower gardens.
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Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed - Bright lemon-yellow flowers that pop in the summer sun.
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Butterfly Weed Plant (Asclepias tuberosa) - Classic fiery orange flowers, drought-tolerant.
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Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) - Narrow, fine-textured foliage with clusters of white blooms.
- Common Milkweed (native selections) - Hardy pollinator plants with ecological importance.
A Pollinator's Paradise
Planting Milkweed and Butterfly Weed means rolling out the welcome mat for Monarchs, bees, and hummingbirds. These hardy perennials provide vivid color, wildlife value, and adaptability in both moist and dry conditions.
With so many unique selections available at Nature Hills, you can mix and match for a long-blooming, pollinator-friendly paradise! Bring the buzz and flutter to your backyard - Monarchs and more are waiting!
Happy Planting!
