In this article, we will discuss all of the differences between butterfly weed and milkweed, including whether or not they are different species. We will go over what these plants look like physically as well as where they grow best in case you are interested in planting one for yourself. We’ll even go over other names for both of these plants, in case you are familiar with them already. Let’s get started now!
Comparing Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed
Key Differences Between Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed
There are a number of key differences between butterfly weed and milkweed. For example, the average milkweed plant grows taller than the average butterfly weed. Most common milkweed plants have pink or purple flowers, while butterfly weed plants have orange, yellow, or red flowers. When it comes to attracting pollinators, both of these plants do a good job, but butterfly weed is not ideal for monarch butterfly reproduction, while milkweed is. Let’s go over all of these differences in more detail.
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed: Classification
Both belonging to the Asclepias or milkweed genus, there are some undeniable similarities between butterfly weed and common milkweed. One could even argue that all butterfly weed is technically milkweed, but not all milkweed is butterfly weed. Common milkweed is classified as Asclepias syriaca, while butterfly weed is classified as Asclepias tuberosa, making them both distinct and unique species from one another.
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed: Description
Despite their relation to each other and they’re colloquial confusion, there are some physical differences between butterfly weed and common milkweed. For example, the average milkweed plant reaches up to six feet in height, while butterfly weed only reaches four feet tall. The leaves on both of these plants grow opposite each other and are fairly simplistic, but milkweed leaves have a distinct line down the center, while butterfly weed leaves do not. One of the main differences between these two plants is how their flowers grow. To begin with, milkweed flowers come in shades of purple or pink and rarely white, while butterfly weed flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, and red. In addition, butterfly weed flowers grow in close clusters, while milkweed flowers form large, globed umbels atop the ends of each stem. While it may not be obvious at first, milkweed blooms grow closer together compared to butterfly weed blooms.
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed: Uses
Butterfly weed and milkweed have similar uses to one another. For example, they both provide plenty of nectar for pollinators. Butterfly weed attracts more butterflies than milkweed; milkweed is preferred by other types of pollinators. However, the monarch butterfly enjoys milkweed for both nutrition and shelter, while butterfly weed is typically not preferred by the monarch butterfly. In fact, studies suggest that the monarch butterfly population has declined in direct relation to the decline of various milkweed fields across the United States.
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed: Origin and How to Grow
Milkweed and butterfly weed originated in North America, but there are some subtle differences in how they grow best. For example, milkweed is native to Canada and the Eastern United States, while butterfly weed is native to the eastern and Southwestern parts of the United States. Both of these plants thrive in full sunlight and a variety of conditions, but milkweed prefers more water and higher moisture levels overall when compared with butterfly weed. Either option is easily grown in a backyard garden. However, milkweed tends to be more invasive than butterfly weed overall.
Butterfly Weed vs Milkweed: Other Names
One of the many reasons why butterfly weed and milkweed are confused for one another lies in their names. They are often named interchangeably even though they belong to very different species. You may know butterfly weed as orange milkweed, Indian paintbrush, chiggerflower, white-root, or butterfly milkweed. However, you may know milkweed as silkweed, common milkweed, butterfly flower, or swallow-wort.
