Butterfly Weed Blooms

Question

Pods have come on the plant. How do I return the plant to blooming?

Answer 1

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) naturally blooms, then rests, then blooms again all summer. If you cut the pods off, it may bloom longer. But if you want seeds for propagation, you may want to let the pods develop.

Butterfly weed will die back at the end of the season in areas that have deep freezes, but returns again in the spring. It is late to break dormancy, so don't give up on it.