Plant of the Week – Using Butterfly Weed in Your Landscaping

Using Butterfly WEED in your landscaping?  WEEDS? I have officially gone off the deep end right? Not yet I promise! This weeks Plant of the Week is a must have in any perennial boarder or for anyone wanting to attract butterflies and save the honeybees. Check out why I have fallen in love with this late season perennial!

Why Use Butterfly Weed?

A perennial with bright orange color that stands out in a landscape, great heat tolerance, little maintenance, and late season color!  There are so many reasons to plant Butterfly Weed at your home.  You can use it as cut flowers, or sprinkle its seeds to naturalize an area and the added food source for bees and butterflies is a fantastic bonus. This plant grows to about 3 feet in height and its blooms grow in tight clusters all over, putting on quite the show.

Where to Plant Butterfly Weed?

Butterfly Weed
The Butterfly Weed is used in conjunction with the Salvia to create a lasting colorful spot next to this pond water feature.

This plant can be used in a multitude of situations, and really I would argue that there isn’t a truly bad place to plant it. Make sure to provide it with full sun and don’t let it starve for water and you will get the full benefits it has to offer. I would use this in a perennial boarder to ensure late season color most often. However, I think it would be beautiful tucked into a boulder wall or along a water feature to draw the eye and soften the stone.

What Does Eagleson Landscape Co. Think?

Reading more about this plant, I have really fallen in love with it. It is simply beautiful and great for the more natural landscape look I love so much. The only maintenance required is some deadheading, light watering and cutting back in the Spring. It offers so much to a location and I love how bold its coloring is!  I will grade this an A and think I will begin using it more in my own designs! Check out this website here to get some additional information about this plant!

Sam Eagleson