butterfly weed

[ buht-er-flahy weed ]

noun

1. Also called or·ange milk·weed [awr, -inj , milk, -weed, or, -]. a North American milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, having clusters of bright orange flowers.
2. an erect North American plant, Gaura coccinea, of the evening primrose family, having wandlike spikes of white to pink flowers turning red with age.

butterfly weed

noun

1. a North American asclepiadaceous plant, Asclepias tuberosa (or A. decumbens ), having flat-topped clusters of bright orange flowers Also calledorange milkweedpleurisy root

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterfly weed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20