Asclepias tuberose

Scientific name	:	Asclepias tuberose
Common name	:	butterfly weed, pleurisy root, tuberroot, Indian paintbrush, chigger flower
Family	:	Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family).
Origin	:	Native to North America.
Distribution	:	New England to MN south to FL, to AZ, CA and Northern Mexico.
Blooming period	:	In Michigan, June, and probably into the fall.
Honey	:	One of the beekeepers whom Pellett references claims the honey is light in color and of excellent flavor.
Pollen	:	The pollen of the milkweeds is tied up in small packets at the ends of a wishbone-like structure known as a pollinium. Bees frequently get their legs stuck in the narrowed juncture of the two arms of the structure. You can sometimes find bees with several of these structures attached to their legs. There has been much controversy about whether this is harmful to the bees. We expect that this controversy will continue, but we personally haven’t seen much evidence of this harm.
Additional information	:	A. tuberosa typically is found in dry, open, sandy soils. It will do well in better soils, but in these situations it is commonly overrun by weeds if not managed. Possibly it is commonly found in these dry situations because there is little else there to compete with it. Despite our disclaimers above, the plant is a prolific nectar producer that attracts, in addition to Hymenoptera, many butterflies which is, of course, the reason for one of its common names, butterfly weed. This would be a fine plant for any flower garden, especially a butterfly or bee garden.
Reference	:	[1] Pellett, F. C. 1976. American Honey Plants. Dadant and Sons. Hamilton IL.