Butterfly weed is a Southeastern native with flat clusters of bright orange bloom from late spring into summer on stems about 2 feet tall. It is the classic milkweed for monarchs — caterpillars feed on the leaves while the adults, along with bees and hummingbirds, work the nectar.

Give it full sun and lean, well-drained soil; a deep taproot makes it very drought tolerant once settled, so choose its spot and let it stay put. It emerges late in spring, so mark the crown, and let a few seedpods stand if you want volunteers.