What Is On This Plant - Ask Extension
Though I do not know the name of this plant, I do know it is a pollinator. Mostly bees have been visiting it all summer. Besides flowers, the plant ...
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What Is On This Plant #810864
Asked September 14, 2022, 9:39 PM EDT
Though I do not know the name of this plant, I do know it is a pollinator. Mostly bees have been visiting it all summer. Besides flowers, the plant also has these pods. So far, they have not opened, so I am not sure what they are for. I recently noticed that the pods had these yellow/orange and some black dots on them. I also then noticed that the yellow/orange dots moved. I realized then they were some type of insect. About a week later I did noticed a few yellow and black caterpillars on the plant. They are now gone. The plant was doing well, but now it is not looking as healthy, and the flowers are all gone. I do not know if it is just at the end of its season or if it is just has a disease. Are these yellow/orange things on the pods normal. Does it sound like the plant may not be doing well?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Your plant is called Butterfly Weed, and is a great Maryland native plant that pollinators love to visit. It is a type of milkweed and so it also feeds the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies. The pods will eventually mature and break open to release seeds, each attached to a fluff of cottony material to help it move to new places.
Here is our page on it:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/butterfly-weed
The condition of the plant and the insects you are finding are normal at this time of year. The small orangy insects are sucking insects called aphids, whose populations get high this time of year. You can squish with a gloved hand or shoot some off with the hose but you don't need to. Likewise, the caterpillars are also common on the plant earlier in the season and were likely milkweed tussock moth caterpillars that are now finished eating and have moved into the landscape to find a good place to make a cocoon and turn into a moth.
Perennial plants like this are tired out after blooming, and can get rough looking.
This plant sometimes is a short-lived perennial, especially in poorly draining soils but we think yours looks great.
There is nothing you need to do.
Christine
Here is our page on it:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/butterfly-weed
The condition of the plant and the insects you are finding are normal at this time of year. The small orangy insects are sucking insects called aphids, whose populations get high this time of year. You can squish with a gloved hand or shoot some off with the hose but you don't need to. Likewise, the caterpillars are also common on the plant earlier in the season and were likely milkweed tussock moth caterpillars that are now finished eating and have moved into the landscape to find a good place to make a cocoon and turn into a moth.
Perennial plants like this are tired out after blooming, and can get rough looking.
This plant sometimes is a short-lived perennial, especially in poorly draining soils but we think yours looks great.
There is nothing you need to do.
Christine
Thank you, Christine, for your detailed information about the Butterfly Weed plant. I was curious about those pods, and have enjoyed watching the changes in the plant this summer. Have a great day.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
You're welcome. Enjoy.
