Gay Butterflies Milkweed
Gay Butterflies Milkweed
A Native Milkweed in a Mix of Fiery Colors
Gay Butterflies Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies') is a colorful seed strain of our native butterfly weed, producing flat-topped clusters in a lively blend of orange, red, and golden-yellow across a planting. As a true milkweed it's both a monarch caterpillar host and a nectar magnet for butterflies and bees, and its deep taproot makes it tough as nails through heat and drought. A pollinator cornerstone for sunny, well-drained beds in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Eagan.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies' |
| Mature Size | 1.5–2.5 ft tall and wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Mix of orange, red, and yellow |
| Soil | Lean, well-drained; dislikes wet or rich soil |
Landscape Uses
Use Gay Butterflies in pollinator and native gardens, prairie plantings, sunny borders, and rock gardens. The color mix is striking massed, and it's a cornerstone of any monarch waystation alongside coneflowers and prairie grasses.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early summer so the taproot can establish. Butterfly weed emerges late in spring, so be patient and mark its spot.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, and water in. Avoid heavy amendments; it prefers lean, well-drained soil. Do not move it once established.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply once a week to establish the taproot.
After Year One: Little to no supplemental water needed. It's highly drought tolerant and dislikes soggy soil.
Drip Irrigation: Generally unnecessary once established; avoid overwatering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a monarch host plant?
Yes. As a true milkweed it feeds monarch caterpillars and provides nectar for adult butterflies and bees.
Will all the plants be the same color?
No, this is a seed strain, so colors vary from orange to red to yellow across plants.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, it's a Zone 3 native, fully hardy statewide.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer avoid milkweeds.
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Pair Gay Butterflies with yellow and orange butterfly weed, coneflowers, and prairie grasses for a monarch-friendly native planting.
How Many Gay Butterflies Milkweed Do I Need?
This native milkweed forms a compact clump spaced about 18 inches apart in a sunny bed or prairie planting. Use this guide for a run or mass:
| Run / Bed Length | Plants Needed (at 18 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 7 plants |
| 20 ft | 13 plants |
| 30 ft | 20 plants |
| 40 ft | 27 plants |
Mass in drifts of 5–7 for the strongest color show and the best monarch waystation.
Gay Butterflies Milkweed Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Emerges late — mark its spot so you don't dig it up by mistake while it sleeps.
- Summer: Flat-topped clusters in a fiery mix of orange, red, and gold feed monarch caterpillars and nectar-seeking butterflies and bees.
- Fall: Decorative seed pods form and split to release silky-tufted seed; foliage lingers.
- Winter: Dies back to a deep, drought-proof taproot and rests dormant underground.
At a Glance
✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Butterfly Weed — the classic solid-orange native milkweed for the same monarch waystation
- Cinderella Swamp Milkweed — pink milkweed for moister spots in the same pollinator bed
- Ice Ballet Swamp Milkweed — white-flowered milkweed that broadens the monarch buffet
- Granada Gold Coneflower — prairie daisy that pairs with milkweed for season-long nectar
Is Gay Butterflies Milkweed Right for Your Yard?
Gay Butterflies thrives in full sun with lean, sharply drained soil and almost no fuss once its taproot is down — ideal for prairie plantings and hot, dry beds in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Eagan. Not a fit if the soil is wet or rich, which rots the taproot; and don't try to move it once established.