butterfly weed
noun
: a North American milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with showy orange flowers borne on erect leafy stems
Examples of butterfly weed in a Sentence
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In North America alone, there are about 100 varieties of native milkweeds to choose from—including the always popular common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and butterfly weed—all of which have beautiful flowers.
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Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 2 May 2026
Brown likes to use this fall bloomer as a 2-foot groundcover paired with prairie dropseed and butterfly weed.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026
Once it is established, butterfly weed will bloom each summer and attract monarch butterflies.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
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Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 2 May 2026
Brown likes to use this fall bloomer as a 2-foot groundcover paired with prairie dropseed and butterfly weed.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026
Once it is established, butterfly weed will bloom each summer and attract monarch butterflies.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butterfly weed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfly%20weed. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
butterfly weed
noun
: an orange-flowered milkweed of the genus Asclepias (A. tuberosa) of eastern North America that is a source of asclepias
called also pleurisy root
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