6 Favorite Perennial Milkweed Species for Monarch Butterflies: Check the leaves carefully for the leaves. Monarch eggs are tiny and difficult to spot. Plus, it isn’t perennial, nor is it native to the U.S. There’s evidence that it negatively impacts monarch health and migration in some parts of the country. I am not including the annual known as tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) on my list because it is a plant that’s much debated. As we dive into the following list of my favorite varieties of perennial milkweed, know that these particular species are good for most parts of the continent. Thankfully, there are several milkweed species that have a broad native range and are suitable for planting across much of North America. When planting milkweed in your garden, it’s important to choose a species of milkweed that’s native to your region whenever possible. This female monarch is busy laying eggs on the leaves of common milkweed. While some species have been found to be preferred over others, all members of the genus Asclepias can be used as a monarch butterfly host plant. Related post: How to Grow a Caterpillar Garden Monarch Butterfly Host Plant Speciesĭespite milkweed’s status as the only monarch butterfly host plant, there are many different species of milkweeds that monarchs can use to raise their young. Here’s a cool video of our Jessica Walliser discovering tiny monarch caterpillars on the milkweed in her own backyard. The toxins found in the monarch butterfly host plant actually help protect the caterpillars and adult butterflies from birds and other predators. But monarch caterpillars actually absorb these toxins as they feed on milkweed leaves, rendering the caterpillars themselves toxic to potential predators. Most other insects, save for a handful of species, can’t digest these toxins it kills them or they avoid it all together due to its foul taste. You see, the latex-based sap produced by milkweed plants contains toxic compounds called cardenolides. Monarchs co-evolved with milkweeds, and as they did, these butterflies developed a unique adaptation that allows their caterpillars to feed on a plant that many other insects cannot. This monarch caterpillar is feasting on the leaves of a species of milkweed known as butterfly weed. Monarch populations have dropped dramatically the past few decades, and more and more home gardeners want to help by including the monarch butterfly host plant in their garden. While many species of butterflies have specific host plants they need to raise their young (you can see a list of other butterfly host plants here), no butterfly is more precious to our collective psyche than the monarch. Before we dive into how to grow these wonderful plants from seed, let me introduce you to some of the very best milkweed species for monarchs. In case you aren’t familiar with this particular group of plants, milkweeds are in the genus Asclepias, and they are the sole monarch butterfly host plant. Provides food for Several Host-Specific Species Including the Monarch Butterfly.Winter doesn’t necessarily seem like the best time to be starting seeds outdoors in most of North America, but for one very valuable group of plants – the milkweeds – winter is the perfect time to get planting. Provides Food for Birds, Hosts Caterpillars of Butterflies/Moths, Attracts Pollinators, Plant young seedlings outdoors in an appropriate site after the danger of frost has past. Seeds will germinate and once seedlings reach 3-6 inches in height, they are ready to be transplanted outdoors. Start seeds in propagation trays under artificial light, keeping the soil temperature below 80 degrees F. Seeds can be germinated indoors during the late winter/early spring months, ideally 4-8 weeks prior to the final frost of the winter. Pods should be collected 1-2 days prior to opening, dried in a paper bag, and the small brown seeds dried and stored in a cool, dry place. These pods can be harvested and the seed contained therein used to propagate more A. Common milkweed will produce large, tear-drop shaped pods in the fall. Considerable recent press has been given to the role of common milkweed in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly.Ĭo mmon milkweed plays an important role in supporting local pollinators, such as Apis wellifera (Western honeybee) and Bombus species (bubble bees). Asclepias syriaca is a key host for at least six insects: red milkweed beetle ( Tetraopes tetrophtalmus), large milkweed bug ( Oncopeltus fasciatus), milkweed leaf beetle ( Labidomera clivicollis), small milkweed bug ( Lygaeus kalmii), a species of weevil ( Rhyssomatus lineaticollis), and the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus). While producing a beautiful flower, the ecological importance of common milkweed far outweighs its aesthetic contributions.
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