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Butterfly weed, as the name implies, attracts numerous butterfly species. It is a long-lived, hardy perennial, best suited to rock gardens and borders. Unlike swamp milkweed of the same genus, butterfly weed does poorly under boggy conditions as its roots rot in too much water. Due to this, well-drained soil is a must. In dry conditions, however, it will perform well and can survive periods of drought. If you want a plant that attracts butterflies in droves and has a long lifecycle, butterfly weed will meet your Iowa gardening needs.

Please note that the Zones listed above are USDA Hardiness Zones and are only given as a rough indication of whether a plant will grow and thrive in your area. Temperature variations and unusual weather conditions can affect plant survival. To assist plant survival during the winter, you may wish to place mulch over the areas in question or plant the flowers in an area away from walls or cement. Additionally, digging up bulbs and roots to overwinter indoors may be preferrable to keeping them in the ground.