Butterfly milkweed grows to about 3 feet high with an upright or sprawling habit. It works well in a formal garden or a more naturalized setting. Globes of bright orange flowers borne at the tips of the stems herald the arrival of summer. Once the blooms have gone, ornamental seed pods appear, prolonging the visual impact of butterfly weed. It is native to our Illinois prairies and an outstanding sun-loving perennial for our gardens.