GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - The June plant of the month is a great perennial that is the Perennial of the Year for 2017, Butterfly weed.
This a hardy plant that is drought resistant and does well in most Minnesota landscapes. The orange flowers last from mid-summer through fall. It does take a bit of time to come up in the spring but grow quickly once the temperatures start to be consistently warm.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Light: Butterfly weed grows best in full sun.
Soil: Grows best in well-drained soils and it is drought tolerant.
Uses: Butterfly weed is a perfect selection for full-sun meadow or prairie gardens as well as formal to semi-formal urban gardens. Flower arrangers find the plants make long-lasting cut flowers.
Unique Qualities: Asclepias tuberosa are butterfly magnets. Flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and leaves are a food source for the monarch butterfly caterpillars.
Maintenance: Butterfly weed is subject to no serious insect or disease problems. Deer usually avoid butterfly weed.