Milkweed Orange
Orange milkweed, commonly called butterfly weed, is a North American perennial with vivid orange flower clusters. Assumed to be Asclepias tuberosa; the supplied name is misspelled and should be verified with the nursery. Special Features Monarch butterfly host plant; nectar source for butterflies and other pollinators. Drought tolerant once established, though Phoenix summer conditions may […]
Milkweed Red
Common milkweed is a rhizomatous perennial with broad leaves and fragrant flower clusters. ‘Red’ is not a well-established cultivar of Asclepias syriaca; verify the plant’s identity, since red milkweed commonly refers to other species. Details below apply to A. syriaca, which is poorly suited to Phoenix’s extreme summer heat. Special Features Monarch butterfly host plant; […]
Black-Eyed Susan
A cheerful, short-lived wildflower with rough, hairy leaves and golden daisy-like blooms surrounding dark centers. Often grown as a seasonal annual in Phoenix because extreme summer heat can shorten its life. Special Features Attracts bees and butterflies; seed heads provide food for birds. Good cut flower; may self-sow when some flowers are left to seed. […]
Black-Eyed Susan Orange
A robust, short-lived perennial often grown as an annual, with large golden-yellow to orange-yellow daisies and dark brown centers. Best treated as a seasonal flowering plant in Phoenix. Special Features Attracts pollinators; seed heads feed birds. Excellent cut flower; may self-sow, though seedlings may differ from the parent cultivar. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and […]