Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a perennial plant that grows to 2 to 3 feet in height. It has orange-yellow flowers that bloom from May to August. The plant is native to North America and can be found in sandy, dry open soils, pastures, and roadsides. The roots of the plant have been used as an expectorant, diaphoretic, and emetic, and to treat rheumatism.

Questions

• What are the common names for Asclepias tuberosa?
• What is the appearance of Asclepias tuberosa?
• When does Asclepias tuberosa flower?
• Where does Asclepias tuberosa grow?
• What are the medicinal uses of Asclepias tuberosa?

Answers

• The common names for Asclepias tuberosa include butterfly milkweed, butterfly weed, Canada root, chigger flower, fluxroot, Indian nosy, orange apocynum, orange milkweed, orangeroot, orange swallow-wort, pleurisy root, rubber root, silkweed, swallow-wort, tuberous-rooted swallow-wort, tuber root, white root, wind root, wind weed, wine tree.
• Asclepias tuberosa is a very leafy, slightly hairy perennial that grows to 2 to 3 feet in height. It has leaves that are 2 to 6 inches long, narrow, alternate, and short petioled. Orange-yellow flowers are in umbels. Fruit is a pod. Seeds have white silky hairs.
• Asclepias tuberosa flowers from May to August.
• Asclepias tuberosa can be found in sandy, dry open soils, pastures, and roadsides.
• The roots of Asclepias tuberosa have been used as an expectorant, diaphoretic, and emetic, and to treat rheumatism.