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

30 Milkweed Options for North American Butterfly Gardens