Butterflyweed is not easy to transplant. The roots are large and quite deep, and I have failed more times than I have suceeded. However, it is pretty easy to grow from seed. Also, it spreads by seed in the garden, so you might find a few small ones around the flowering plant and you could try to transplant those. The way to get new ones with least impact on existing plants is to collect seeds, store in the fridge over winter or sow outdoors in the fall, and you should have seedlings next year. The seedlings won't bloom the first year, but are easy to grow. This is a plant that generally occurs in small numbers, so it should not be collected from the wild. Seed, on the other hand, is often in good supply in the wild so you can take some without worrying about impacting the wild population.

Thank you for taking time to answer as well as the tips. I'll just enjoy them where they are now, watch for seed, and mark for possible fall transplant.

Kimmers

If they are really plants with just a "single stem," my bet is you could move them now. Or if the stem has a bloom, maybe wait till it's gone. The root on the single stem should not be that big or deep. I've transplanted ones of that size in the past.

This spring before flowering, I successfully transplanted one with 4-5 stems. I don't particularly advise moving one as big as that. The tap root was deep, and I snapped it off. On the other hand, it survived, perhaps helped by all the rain we've had. It's blooming now.

I agree with david -- small plants (one or two stems, haven't bloomed yet) can usually be transplanted successfully. Not a good time to do so now, though. You should probably wait until early fall.

I transplanted a large Zizotes Milkweed (it has a huge tap root also) after it was mowed down and then planted it where I wanted it and gave it some plantfood and it is getting a lot of new growth!

Hi,

Can I transplant 1 year old seedlings of this species? I intend to sow the seeds in a bed and 1 year later, transplant; tap root...

Steve