Butterfly Weed is a brilliantly orange-flowered milkweed native to open dry habitats across the eastern and central United States. Unlike most milkweeds, it lacks milky sap but still supports monarch butterfly larvae. The vivid flowers attract an enormous variety of pollinators including fritillaries, swallowtails, hummingbirds, and native bees.
Best time to see a Butterfly Weed
The best time to see a Butterfly Weed is June–July, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 60,043 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Butterfly Weed? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Butterfly Weed sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spotted a Butterfly Weed?
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