Asclepias Tuberosa Hello Yellow Butterfly Weed
Hello Yellow Milkweed for Monarchs and More
Asclepias tuberosa hello yellow: ‘Hello Yellow’ Butterfly weed, Yellow Butterfly milkweed, Hello Yellow butterfly weed, Hello Yellow Milkweed, Pleurisy root
Asclepias Tuberosa Plant Specs
- Perennial Zone: USDA hardiness zones 3a-9b (lows -40 °C or -40 °F)
- Native Plant: to most of the Continental US and eastern Canada (Al, Ar, Co, Ct, De, DC, Fl, Ga, Id, Il, In, Ia, Ks, Ky, La, Me, Md, Ma, Mi, Mn, Ms, Mo, Mt, Ne, Nv, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, Oh, Ok, Pa, RI, SC, SD, Tn, Tx, Ut, Vt, Va, WV, Wi, Wy, MB, ON, QC
- Plant in full sun to partial shade
- Height: 2 to 3 feet
- Spacing: 2 feet
- Majestically crowned clusters of bright yellow flowers
- Leaves don’t contain milky sap like other species
Hello Yellow Asclepias Tuberosa Pros
- Serves as Host and Nectar plant
- Nectar source for monarch butterflies and many other species
- Native Wildflowers Attract a wide range of beneficial pollinators
- Herbaceous Perennial to Support Monarch Caterpillars
- Adds bright pop of color to your garden landscape
- Often blooms in June-July, and can rebloom in August-September
- Not considered invasive by home gardeners
- The thick, rugged leaves present a good place for chrysalis formation
- Make a nice cut flower for your home
- Deer resistant
- Drought Tolerant
Hello Yellow Milkweed Cons
- Rough leaves for monarch caterpillars, not typically a preferred host plant for monarch females laying eggs
- Difficult to transplant because of deep taproot
- Aphids can be an issue
- Difficult to grow in clay soil
- Takes up to 2 years to product mature plants
- versatile milkweed can be grown in gardens, meadows, and wildflower fields
- ‘Hello yellow’ nativar attracts less pollinators compared to regular Asclepias Tuberosa in my experience (if planting, try both colors to see if you notice a difference)
- Prone to leaf spot fungus, rusts, and other milkweed diseases
Butterfly Weed Plant Propagation
- Harvest milkweed seeds from seed pods in fall and then
- Sow directly in fall– November is a good option for most regions
- Start seeds indoors 2 months before final frost- refrigerator cold stratification required
- Spring Sow seeds directly after final frost- don’t forget to stratify first
- Divide your butterfly weed
- Winter sowing provides a natural cold stratification
- Start seeds in a cup of water. Use a heated seed mat. no cold stratification necessary
Asclepias Tuberosa Growing Tips
- Grows well in sandy, well-draining dry soils. Avoid growing in soils that are consistently wet.
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage a second round of flowering
- Fertilize with organic slow-release fertilizer
- This can be a difficult choice in the wrong spot. However, it also can take awhile to get going. Give it 2 years to prove it’s worthy for your garden
- Since asclepias tuberosa can be temperamental about growing conditions, try planting in a couple different spots to see where it grows best.
- Prune spent blooms in spring to mid-summer to encourage reblooming
- Transplant milkweed in early spring or fall for a higher survival rate
- Cut off pods to stop seeding or
- Use twist ties or organza bags to bind pods for seed collection
Pollinator Plus
This milkweed also attracts bumble bees, eastern tiger swallowtails, fritillaries, hairstreaks, honeybees, painted ladies, pipevine swallowtails, sulphurs and more. (If you know of other pollinators Asclepias tuberosa ‘hello yellow’ attracts, please share your sightings below.)
Buy Yellow Butterfly Weed Plants and Seeds
Always purchase seeds and plants by botanical (scientific) name. Asclepias tuberosa’s common name, butterfly weed, is often used to refer to other milkweed species:
1. ‘Hello Yellow’ Milkweed on Etsy
2. Asclepias Tuberosa Hello Yellow on Ebay
3. MILKWEED Quickstart Guide for Monarch Butterflies ⬅️
FAQ about Asclepias Tuberosa Hello Yellow Milkweed
Does Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’ spread?
Hello yellow is more of a clump-forming, taprooted perennial rather than a creeping, rhizomatous plant. It does not aggressively spread by underground runners, so it won’t take over a bed like common milkweed.
However, it will readily produce seed pods. Mature pods can split and release seeds that are wind-dispersed, so the plant can self-seed and gradually naturalize or form small colonies over time if you allow the seeds to germinate.
To control spread: remove spent flowers cut off seed pods before they open, or tie organza bags over seed pods to harvest the seeds and plant in a place of your choosing.
Should Asclepias tuberosa hello yellow be deadheaded?
Deadheading asclepias tuberosa hello yellow can help prolong its flowering period and keep the plant looking tidy; removing spent blooms before seed pods form encourages more blooms rather than seed production. For continual color, pinch or cut off spent flower clusters throughout the season, taking care not to remove too much foliage for munching monarch caterpillars.
Leave some spent flower heads later in the season if you want to support wildlife—milkweed seeds and pods provide food and habitat for butterflies and other insects.
Do asclepias tuberosa hello yellow come back every year?
Asclepias tuberosa hello yellow is a perennial milkweed, so in suitable climates it typically returns each year from its root system. Plants may die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring; survival depends on hardiness zone, winter conditions, and whether the site has good drainage.
To improve yearly return, plant in well-drained soil, give it full sun, and avoid overwatering or heavy winter mulch in wet climates. Young plants can take a season or two to truly thrive, but patience and basic care will be rewarded in upcoming seasons.
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