Butterfly Weed is an unmistakable, locally common milkweed that can be found growing across most of Maryland. Butterfly Weed prefers open dry field habitats but can also be found growing along wooded edges. Bloom times for Butterfly Weed in the Maryland Biodiversity Project database range from 6/10 through 9/13.
Butterfly Weed is easily identified by the bright coloration of the flowers. Most plants are a deep orange but bright yellow flowers can also be encountered. Butterfly Weed lacks the milky sap that is typically found in other milkweed species. The sap of Butterfly Weed is clear.
Monarch caterpillars often use Butterfly Weed as a host plant.
Butterfly Weed is a favored plant for many native pollinators. Numerous species of bees, wasps, and butterflies can be found nectering on the flowers of Butterfly Weed.
There are 148 records in the project database.
GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |