Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly weed is a tuberous rooted, native perennial which occurs in dry/rocky open woods, glades, prairies, fields and roadsides throughout the Central and Eastern United States. It typically grows in a clump to 1-3′ tall and features clusters (umbels) of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers atop upright to reclining, hairy stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Unlike many of the other milkweeds, this species does not have milky-sapped stems. Flowers give way to prominent, spindle-shaped seed pods (3-6″ long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind. Seed pods are valued in dried flower arrangements. Long bloom period from late spring throughout the summer. Flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and leaves are a food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Also commonly called pleurisy root in reference to a prior medicinal use of the plant roots to treat lung inflammations.  (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder)