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.

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.

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Pair Hello Yellow with orange butterfly weed, coneflowers, and prairie grasses for a sunny, monarch-friendly native planting.