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Definition of butterfly weed

butterfly weed

Plural:butterfly weeds
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butterfly weed Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A species of milkweed native to eastern North America, characterized by coarse leaves and clusters of bright orange or yellow flowers that heavily attract butterflies.

Example

"The conservationist recommended planting butterfly weed to provide a crucial food source for migrating monarch butterflies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for butterfly weed

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite the word 'weed' in its name, it is a highly valued native wildflower that gardeners intentionally cultivate to support pollinator populations.

• Nearby Words

butterfly
butterfly bush
butterfly pea
butterfly weed
butterflyfish
buttermilk
buttermilk falls

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for its distinct ability to attract large numbers of butterflies due to its copious nectar production, combined with 'weed', a historical term for any wild plant.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Butterfly weed. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/butterfly weed
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