Known variously as butterfly weed or common milkweed, these are actually rather fine and choice garden perennials—the plants sold by Farmer Gracy are certainly not weeds! The wild forms of Asclepias came originally from the USA, where they grow in wide swathes from coast to coast, and all are sun-lovers that give of their very best when planted in an open border in full sun. They are also usefully drought-tolerant, with their relatively leather-like leaves retaining much of the moisture needed during the drier months. There are more than 100 species, but only a few of these are available commercially.

In summer, mainly from July to September, Asclepias produce exciting starry flowers in shades ranging from pumpkin-orange to yellows, reds and pinks. The blooms are held in generous clusters in the leaf joints, and are followed in the autumn by seed pods. Asclepias are excellent as border plants (especially where an accent of vivid colour is needed), and as cut flowers (cutting the blooms regularly encourages further flowering, and can even extend the show by a month or more).

Two things to bear in mind with Asclepias. First, although they are hardy perennials, they are slow risers in the spring; gardeners often believe clumps to have died, only for them to suddenly appear, well after other plants, and then go on to give a fantastic show. Second, if cutting the stems to bring indoors, watch out for the milky sap. It can be a bit messy initially, but soon dries up. Don’t allow either of these points put you off as, in addition to Asclepias being beautiful plants, they are as much a draw to butterflies and other pollinators as Sedum and Buddleja.