Milkweed, Butterfly
Asdepias tuberosa, also known as butterfly weed, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan. Plant reaches 2 feet tall and flowers from June to July with an orange blossom. It prefers full sun to partial shade, medium to dry soil and will grow in loam or sand. Drought tolerant. Does well in poor, dry soils.
Butterfly Milkweed is a host plant for Monarch Butterflies, as well as a number of other beneficial insects. Its bright orange flowers attract pollinators. This plant likes well-drained or dry soil. Do not overwater or over fertilize. It doesn't spread and forms a clump over time. It may spread by seed in your location, but this is rare in the UP.
This is the gateway drug of native plants. It is showy, distinctive, long-blooming, and polite. Works well in traditional tidy plantings. However, in southwest Michigan it is a roadside weed and is adapted to dry prairie life. It can hold its own in a meadow or naturalized area, especially if plants are short or growing loosely, although it doesn't really thrive and spread in such habitats in the UP. It needs full sun and works well in butterfly gardens and rock gardens, sunny borders, or slopes. A deep taproot resists erosion and drought. Foliage turns yellow in the fall. Pairs well with Spiderwort and Harebell.