Asclepias tuberosa 'Blonde Bombshell' PPAF

Asclepias 'Blonde Bombshell' Butterfly Weed

Common Name: Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa is a classic native perennial that's popular because of its rugged habit, bright flowers, and the ability to attract pollinators. 'Blonde Bombshell' is a yellow flowering clone selected from a field of Asclepias tuberosa. This variety has an improved habit and uniform color from what you'd expect from variations in a seed strain. Incredibly dark foliage holds golden yellow flowers that radiate down the habit for an extremely long season of bloom. Plant this refined selection and get ready to see butterflies!

Gather bouquets of Asclepias all summer long; the long stems are wonderful for cutting and are long-lasting. Sear the ends of the cut stems over a flame to stop the milky sap from leaking out.

Following the fabulous flowers, green fruits develop which rupture to reveal seeds with long, silvery-white, silky hairs reminiscent of its cousin, common milkweed. These are great to use in dried flower arrangements.

Height:

18.0-20.0 Inches

Spread:

28.0-32.0 Inches

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Flower Color:

Yellow/Gold Shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Low Water Needs Average Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Poor Soil Quality Average Soil Quality Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Early Summer Midsummer Late Summer

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant

Seasonal Interest:

Dried Seed Heads

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Eclectic Prairie Rain Garden

Other Features:

Border Plant Cut Flower Dried Flower Drought Tolerant Mass Planting

Origin:

Native to North America

Asclepias tuberosa is a prairie plant native to North America from S. Ontario and New York, west to N. Dakota, southwest to Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, and south to Florida (zones 3-9). Found naturally in dry fields and on slopes, it does not require rich soil or much moisture. A full day of sun is best along with a slightly acidic, sandy-humus-loam that is well-drained (especially in winter).

Once established, Butterfly Weed is drought-tolerant and requires little care. Though it is perfectly cold-hardy in the north, mulching plants in winter will help prevent frost-heaving. In spring, trim back last year's growth and await the beautiful new foliage which will appear quite a bit later than other perennials. It's a good idea to grow this perennial from seed; division, though seldomly needed, is difficult because of the plant's long tap root.

Characteristics