Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
A Golden Native Milkweed and Monarch Magnet
Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow') is a sunny golden-yellow form of our native butterfly weed, a tough prairie wildflower that is both a host plant for monarch caterpillars and a nectar feast for butterflies and bees. Its bright, flat-topped flower clusters glow atop sturdy stems in summer, and once its deep taproot is established it sails through heat and drought. A pollinator essential for sunny, well-drained spots in Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow' |
| Mature Size | 1.5–2 ft tall and wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Bright golden-yellow |
| Soil | Lean, well-drained; dislikes wet or rich soil |
Landscape Uses
Use Hello Yellow in pollinator and native gardens, prairie plantings, sunny borders, and rock gardens. It pairs beautifully with coneflowers, little bluestem, and other prairie natives, and is a cornerstone of any monarch waystation.
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; this plant prefers lean, well-drained soil. Do not move it once established, as it resents root disturbance.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply once a week to establish the taproot.
After Year One: Little to no supplemental water needed. It is 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.
Why is it slow to emerge in spring?
Butterfly weed naturally breaks dormancy late, so don't assume it's lost if it's slow to appear.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, it's a Zone 3 native, fully hardy statewide.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer avoid milkweeds.
You May Also Like
Pair Hello Yellow with orange butterfly weed, coneflowers, and prairie grasses for a sunny, monarch-friendly native planting.
How Many Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed Do I Need?
For a prairie-style mass or pollinator drift, space plants about 18 inches apart and plant in groups of 5 to 7 for the best monarch and butterfly traffic.
| Bed Run | Plants Needed (18 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 7 |
| 20 ft | 13 |
| 30 ft | 20 |
| 40 ft | 27 |
Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Breaks dormancy late — mark its spot and be patient as low clumps emerge.
- Summer: Bright golden-yellow flower clusters glow atop sturdy stems, hosting monarch caterpillars and feeding butterflies and bees.
- Fall: Slender seed pods split to release silky seeds as the foliage yellows.
- Winter: Fully dormant; leaving the stems standing adds structure and shelters overwintering insects.
At a Glance
✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Butterfly Weed — the classic orange form for a sunset-toned milkweed drift.
- Gay Butterflies Milkweed — a mixed orange/red/yellow seed strain that extends the color range.
- Sombrero Granada Gold Coneflower — echoes the gold and pulls in even more pollinators.
- Little Bluestem — a native grass that gives the planting prairie structure and movement.
Is Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed Right for Your Yard?
It thrives in full sun and lean, well-drained — even sandy — soil, perfect for hot, low-water spots and monarch waystations. Not a fit if your soil stays wet or rich (the taproot rots), or if you can't resist tidying early: it emerges late and resents being moved once established.