Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is an colorful perennial shrub native to several states in the U.S., including Missouri. It thrives best in well-drained soil with lots of sun and grows 1-3 feet tall and a foot or so wide. Among its other charms, it's the host plant for the caterpillar of the Monarch butterfly. Its bright orange blossoms bright our highways and are finding increasing favor in home gardens, where it can be transplanted or grown from seed.