Butterfly Milkweed Care Tips

Light
Butterfly milkweed thrives best with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil and Water
Space butterfly milkweed plants 12 to 18 inches apart in soil that drains well. Though adaptable to most soils, they prefer sandy earth with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. During their first year, water them about an inch per week, supplementing rainfall as needed. Once established, they become drought-resistant and usually only need watering once a month in very dry conditions.

Fertilizer
Butterfly milkweed plants don’t need fertilizer. In fact, adding fertilizer can make them grow tall and spindly rather than encouraging more flowers.

Pruning
At the end of the season, you can cut the stems down a little to reduce self-seeding. To aid Iowa's wildlife, we recommend trimming as little as possible. 

Potting

Butterfly milkweed does well in pots as long as the soil drains well, is sandy, and the plant gets full sun daily. Use a deep container (10–12 inches) to accommodate the long roots and give the plant room to grow. Protect the roots by burying the pot or insulating it with mulch or sand. Although hardy, potted butterfly milkweed needs this extra winter protection. There’s no need to repot or refresh the soil each year, as butterfly milkweed actually prefers poorer soils.