I am growing this plant 'Hello Yellow' for the first time this year, too. All the ones I've started from seed are very slow growing, still very tiny. It may be that they need very hot weather to really get going and since they're perennial, they probably do take a couple of years to get settled and develop good top growth.

I ordered one plant from a nursery this spring (it was dorment when it arrived) and although it has produced 5 individual stalks, even it is very slow growing. Tallest stalk on this plant is maybe 2.5 inches.

I figure as long as they're alive, sooner or later I'll have display size plants.

Looking forward to the experiences of other forum members.

Mary

I'm having the same issue. I thought it was a weed. Weeds usually grow fast. I don't get it.

Mine are also Gay Butterflies. They're just sitting there. I water them every day, they're sitting in pots in the sun. Also the echinacea still has 2 or 3 leaves. This fall I'm going to grow Echinacea and Columbine in milk jugs winter sowing. They seemed to like that better. I wonder how the asclepias would respond. Maybe still slow

Butterfly Weed is Asclepias tuberosa, and it develops a very deep tap root during it's first year, which allows it to survive dry, sunny conditions. They do not survive in pots, because they cannot grow the tap root. They also probably don't benefit from daily watering, since they prefer dryer conditions.

They are very slow to establish and quiite tricky. once they do establish (2-3 years) then tbey will never die. one misconception is they do well in dry soil - this is only true once established. Like all new plantings, they need constantly moist soul to grow roots. Keep them wet or they will die. BUT not TOO wet or roots will rot. Like i said, tricky. What works for me is planting them higher in the ground and mulching. then keep them watered. By planting higher, less chance of root rot.