Editing Asclepias tuberosa (section)

== Cultivation ==
Butterfly weed is frequently grown in gardens for its showy orange flowers which are especially attractive to bees, though also visited by hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies.<ref name="NCExtension">{{cite web |title=Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Chieger Flower, Chiggerflower, Common Butterfly-weed, Indian Paintbrush, Milkweed, Pleurisy Root) |url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asclepias-tuberosa/ |website=North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox |publisher=North Carolina State University |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=Adam M. |last2=Potter |first2=Daniel A. |title=Colonization and usage of eight milkweed (Asclepias) species by monarch butterflies and bees in urban garden settings |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |date=August 2018 |volume=22 |issue=3–4 |pages=405–418 |doi=10.1007/s10841-018-0069-5 |s2cid=254600271 |url=https://protectingbees.njaes.rutgers.edu/resources/research-articles/colonization-usage-of-milkweed-by-monarch-butterflies-and-bees-baker/ |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> It is easily grown from seeds and is difficult to transplant due to the size of its roots.<ref name="MBGPlant Finder">{{cite web |title=''Asclepias tuberosa'' |url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b490 |website=Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref> Grown from seed plants will take about two to three years to reach flowering size in average conditions.<ref name="NCExtension" /> The seeds do not require stratification and can be immediately planted, though in commercial growing they are generally moist stratified at 5&nbsp;°C for 30–60 days because this increases the germination rate.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Swengel |first1=Ann B. |title=Stalking wild seeds |journal=Horticulture |date=August 1995 |volume=73 |issue=7 |pages=42 |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9508102242&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lewis |first1=Mary |last2=Chappell |first2=Matthew |last3=Thomas |first3=Paul A |last4=Zhang |first4=Donglin |last5=Greyvenstein |first5=Ockert |title=Development of a vegetative propagation protocol for Asclepias tuberosa |journal=Native Plants Journal |date=2020 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=27–34 |doi=10.3368/npj.21.1.27 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Propagating">{{cite journal |last1=Landis |first1=Thomas D. |last2=Dumroese |first2=R. Kasten |year=2015 |title=Propagating Native Milkweeds for Restoring Monarch Butterfly Habitat |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_journals/2015/rmrs_2015_landis_t001.pdf |url-status=live |journal=International Plant Propagators' Society, Combined Proceedings (2014) |volume=64 |page=302 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308083021/https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_journals/2015/rmrs_2015_landis_t001.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=July 11, 2021 |quote=Many sources of milkweed seeds require stratification (cold, moist treatment) before sowing. .... Butterfly milkweed (A. tuberosa) germination increased from 29 to 48 to 62% as stratification duration increased from 0 to 30 to 60 days, respectively (Bir, 1986). |via=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]: [[United States Forest Service]]}}</ref> For other milkweeds a thin layer of mulch a layer 1–2&nbsp;cm thick increases the germination rate, though specific research on butterfly weed is lacking.<ref name="Propagating" />

Butterfly weed has few serious pest or disease problems. It is susceptible to crown rot if planted in poorly drained or too constantly moist locations.<ref name="NCExtension" /> It is hardy in [[Hardiness zone#United States hardiness zones (USDA scale)|USDA zones]] 3–9.<ref name="MBGPlant Finder" />