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Read the press release here.

Meet The Plant Of The Year: It Even Has Its Own T-Shirt

 Butterfly Weed earned the honors from the Perennial Plant Association.
Butterfly Weed earned the honors from the Perennial Plant Association.
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Perennial Plant Association

LINCOLN SQUARE — Want to be the trendiest gardener on the block this spring?

Stock up on Asclepias tuberosa.

Commonly known as butterfly weed, this member of the milkweed family has been tapped as the "Perennial Plant of the Year" by the Perennial Plant Association.

As its name suggests, the native prairie plant is a magnet for butterflies, along with bees, wasps, beetles, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Its leaves are a vital food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars.

Known for its vivid orange/red/yellow flowers, butterfly weed grows best in full sun and well drained soils. Added bonus: Deer don't like it.

Like the rock star it is, the plant even has its own merchandise tie-in — a complete line of t-shirts.

The Perennial Plant Association is an Ohio-based trade organization that includes growers, retailers and landscapers.