Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/29/2017). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 938810 - Psn: 8)

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Butterfly Weed in flower in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/30/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/10/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 196111 - Psn: 35)

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Ashley Bradford MBP List

Butterfly Weed blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (6/19/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Kimberly Booth MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Ashley Bradford MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/26/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Ashley Bradford MBP List

Butterfly Weed blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/30/2015).

View Record Details Photo by David Illig MBP List

Butterfly Weed in seed in Allegany Co., Maryland (8/26/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Kimberly Booth MBP List

Butterfly Weed with seed pod in Washington Co., Maryland (9/15/2013).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/20/2017). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Butterfly Weed blooming in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/20/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman.

View Record Details Photo by USGS PWRC MBP List

Butterfly Weed in bloom in Howard Co., Maryland (6/20/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman.

View Record Details Photo by USGS PWRC MBP List

Butterfly Weed in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 436673 - Psn: 200)

Butterfly Weed in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Map Snapshot

502 Records

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Status

Butterfly Weed is an unmistakable, locally common milkweed that can be found growing across most of Maryland, and grows throughout the eastern and southern United States. Butterfly Weed prefers open dry field habitats but can also be found growing along wooded edges.

Description

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 has clear sap, in contrast to the milky sap that is typically found in other milkweed species.

Relationships

Monarch, Queen, and Grey Hairstreak caterpillars are known to feed on Butterfly Weed.

This summer-long bloomer is a favored plant for many native pollinators, including numerous species of bees, wasps, and butterflies, as well as hummingbirds.

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View at Maryland Plant Atlas Search Flora of North America Search Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium Search Norton-Brown Herbarium Search MNPS Facebook posts

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2016). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Butterfly Weed in flower in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/30/2016). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Butterfly Weed in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/10/2014). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2016). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Ashley Bradford.

Butterfly Weed blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (6/19/2014). View Record Details Media by Kimberly Booth.

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Ashley Bradford.

Butterfly Weed in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/26/2013). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Butterfly Weed in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Ashley Bradford.

Butterfly Weed blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/30/2015). View Record Details Media by David Illig.

Butterfly Weed in seed in Allegany Co., Maryland (8/26/2017). View Record Details Media by Kimberly Booth.

Butterfly Weed with seed pod in Washington Co., Maryland (9/15/2013). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Butterfly Weed in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/20/2017). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Butterfly Weed blooming in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/20/2015). View Record Details Media by Bill Hubick.

Butterfly Weed in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. View Record Details Media by USGS PWRC.

Butterfly Weed in bloom in Howard Co., Maryland (6/20/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. View Record Details Media by USGS PWRC.

Butterfly Weed in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.