Gay Butterflies Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies')
ah-SKLEE-pee-us too-ber-OH-sah 'Gay Butterflies'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Apocynaceae Family
Experience the stunning 'Gay Butterflies,' Asclepias tuberosa showcasing vivid orange, red and yellow blooms. The unique seed pods appear shortly after each bloom is spent, adding intrigue to your garden while attracting a flurry of pollinators!

'Gay Butterflies' is a seed-grown color strain of Butterfly Weed, selected for a multicolor mix of yellow, gold, orange, and scarlet blooms rather than the species' typical solid orange. Like the species, it forms a compact, mounded clump and thrives in hot, dry, well-drained sites where richer-soil perennials struggle. It's a genuine Monarch host plant and a magnet for other butterflies and pollinators, and its slender seed pods add interest once the flowers fade.

Pros

  • Multicolor mix of yellow, gold, orange, and scarlet blooms on one plant
  • Compact, mounded habit like the species
  • Extremely drought tolerant once established
  • Pollinator favorite and Monarch host plant

Cons

  • Cannot tolerate shade or wet, heavy soil
  • Aphids and milkweed beetles can be unsightly but tolerable
  • Contains cardiac glycosides like other milkweeds -- can be toxic if ingested despite its clear, non-milky sap
Highlights

A multicolor seed strain of Butterfly Weed — where the straight species is solid orange, 'Gay Butterflies' mixes in yellow, gold, and scarlet tones across a planting.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Needs regular water the first year to establish, then becomes quite drought tolerant thanks to its deep taproot.
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rocky Soil, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Tolerant of Shallow Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color Yellow, Gold, Orange, Scarlet Mix
Foliage Color Green
 

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Commonly Planted with...

Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta, Monarda didyma, Aster novae-angliae, Salvia nemorosa, Achillea millefolium, Agastache spp., Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), and Coreopsis spp.

Photos of This with...

Tiny Gold Barberry, Big Bang Tickseed, Obsidian Coral Bells, Foamy Bells 'Sweet Tea', Autumn Joy Sedum,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!