Asclepias barjoniifolia

Common Names

Butterfly Weed, Bolibiya, Argentina

Summary

Butterfly Weed is a perennial native to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, growing in desert or dry shrubland biomes and reaching about 1 m in height; it exudes white milky sap and has a slightly woody base with upright, ridged stems. Leaves are glabrous or finely pubescent, 3–8(10) cm long and 1–3(4) cm wide, ovate to oblong-elliptic with a heart-shaped base and pointed tip, and lateral nerves run nearly parallel to the midrib at about 60°. Generative blooms appear as 15–30 (up to 50) yellow, five-lobed flowers on pedicels 1.5–2.5 cm long, in a pseudo-dold-like inflorescence; calyces are 1.5–4 cm long and 0.5–1 cm wide, with a yellow corolla bent backward; fruits are 4–9 cm long and seeds 5–6 mm long with about a 2 cm long white tuft.

Endemic to central Bolivia and Argentine provinces, it occurs at elevations of 1600–3400 m (rarely down to 800 m) on hot, dry slopes in Andean valleys; propagation options include seeds with cold stratification (autumn sowing or 8–10 weeks refrigeration before spring planting; sow ~¼ inch deep; germination several weeks), stem cuttings (4–6 inches, bottom leaves removed, rooting hormone, warm humid environment; 4–6 weeks to root; best in spring or early summer), and divisions (lift in early spring and divide root mass with roots and stems). Cultivation notes include full sun and well-drained soil; consistent watering, especially during the first year or during extended dry periods; relatively pest-free but watch for aphids and fungal diseases; easy to propagate, making it a low-maintenance option for pollinator-friendly landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3.5 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Bloom Color

Bright yellow to orange

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Stem cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators