Does Butterfly Weed Need Special Dirt to Grow?

About Butterfly Weed

• Butterfly weed, also known as butterfly milkweed and Indian paintbrush, is a common wildflower throughout most of the continental United States, especially east of the Rocky Mountains. It grows 1 to 3 feet high and wide and is covered in flat-topped clusters of tiny, nectar-filled flowers from midsummer to fall. Most butterfly weed plants have orange flowers, although yellow and red cultivars are available. They also make good cut and dried flowers. Butterfly weed is hardy throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 4 to 10.

Cultural Needs

• Grow butterfly weed in full sun or partial shade, in average, well-drained soil. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the blooming season into fall. Fertilize the plant once, in early spring. While butterfly weed responds well to regular watering, it tolerates drought and needs supplemental watering only during extended heat waves or prolonged windy weather. Butterfly weed has a long, brittle taproot so don't attempt to transplant or divide it unless absolutely necessary. New plants grow easily from seed and will bloom in their first or second year. Butterfly weed is slow to emerge in the spring so mark its location to avoid disturbing the plant before it breaks dormancy.

Landscape Uses

• Butterfly weedw can be incorporated into your landscape in several ways. It makes a long-blooming addition to perennial gardens, where the loose flower clusters complement both daisy-flowered and spiky plants. Because butterfly weed isn't picky about soil and thrives with little attention, it's a natural choice for prairie or meadow gardens, as well as hot and dry rock gardens. And of course, no butterfly garden would be complete without at least one Asclepias plant.

The Bottom Line on Soil

• The butterfly weed doesn't require any special soil to thrive in your garden. It thrives in a range of locations, from prepared flower beds to dry fields and roadsides. It does, however, need good drainage. If your soil is naturally heavy and wet, plant it in raised beds or on a slope.