Page 54 - Free State Summer 2023

Iris Cristata Dicentra King of Hearts

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) orange flowers have 5 blazing orange or yellow petals that
sit upon star shaped sepals like a cup on a saucer in softer
styles, creating a light and airy fragrant flower. After the colors and are gathered onto an umbel. If left to go to seed,
flowers mature, they ripen into narrow 1-inch-long seeds. the Butterfly weed will develop 3–6-inch spindle shaped pods
Many pollinators visit, but the strong scent deters deer. full of seeds with silky tails. When the pod matures it will
There are no serious pests, but in the wild this plant can be spilt on the side releasing the seeds to fly on the air currents.
mistaken for water hemlock which is poisonous.
When in bloom, the Butterfly weed flowers are an excellent
Agastache foeniculum, or Anise hyssop, blooms from June to nectar source for many pollinators including many different
late September and thrives in full sun and prefers average, types of butterflies and is one of the milkweed family that the
well drained soils. Once established the Agastache is Monarch butterfly will lay their eggs on. Plants develop a very
drought tolerant. Plants grow 2-4 feet tall and spread 1½ strong tap root and once planted should not be dug up,
to 3 feet wide in an upright clump. The stems are square, rather purchase more plants. One of the common names
showing the mint family characteristic, and the 4-inch- of Butterfly weed is Chigger weed, an excellent deterrent
long anise scented green leaves with toothed margins are from digging up plants in the wild. The Butterfly weed is a
arranged opposite of each other on the square stem. Tiny perfect flower for wildflower, pollinator, butterfly and native
lavender purple flowers are densely packed to bloom in gardens or meadows. Its long bloom time and bright flower
3-6-inch-long terminal spikes. Each 1/3-inch tubular flower is colors make it stand out. New research shows that planting
topped with 2 lips, and although the flowers are not fragrant, the butterfly weed in groups of 5 or more at the edges of
they provide nectar for butterflies, native and honeybees gardens allows the pollinators better access to the flowers.
and hummingbirds. The plants can spread by seed as well Pests include leaf spot, rust, and milkweed aphids.
as rhizomes and are welcome in butterfly, wildflower and Asclepias verticillate, or whorled milkweed, blooms from
pollinator gardens and meadows. Pests can include crown June to September, thriving in full sun and dry sandy loams.
rot if grown in wet soils, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust.
Plants grow 1-2½ feet tall and 1-2 feet wide on upright, mostly
Asclepias tuberosa, or Butterfly weed, blooms from June to unbranched stems. At each node 3-6 thin 2-3-inch-long
August, thriving in full sun and dry, well drained soils. Plants leaves are attached in a whorled pattern along the tall
are slow to emerge in the spring, preferring to wait to be sure stems. Clusters of 3-20 tiny fragrant green-white flowers,
winter is over and spring is just a distant memory. Butterfly similar in shape to Butterfly milkweed, perch on an umbel
weed grows as a clump 1 to 2½ feet tall and sprawls 1 to 1½ that sits in the upper leaf axils, providing nectar for butterflies
feet wide. The foliage is thin and lance shaped and spiral up and other pollinators and provides food for the Monarch
the stems. Butterfly weed is the only milkweed in the family caterpillars from June to September. Seed pods are similar
that does not have milk sap in the stems. The tiny bright to Butterfly milkweed with the same seed type with its silky

54 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News