Save Monarch Butterflies with these Milkweed Plants

What if a single plant could help save an entire species of butterfly? Well, it exists—it’s called milkweed!

Milkweed plants are more than just a wildflower—they are a lifeline for monarch butterflies, an essential part of native ecosystems, and a stunning addition to any garden.

But should you plant it? While it offers many ecological and aesthetic benefits, there are also a few things to consider before adding it to your landscape.

🦋 Why Are Monarch Butterflies Disappearing?

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are famous for their epic migration, traveling thousands of miles from North America to Mexico each year. However, their populations have dropped by over 90% in the last few decades. In fact, in 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)  officially declared the migratory monarch butterfly “Endangered”.

🌍 What’s Causing the Decline?

Several factors have contributed to the monarch crisis, including:

• 🚜 Habitat Loss – Urbanization, deforestation, and large-scale farming have destroyed millions of acres  of monarch habitat.
• 🌾 Decline of Milkweed – Herbicide use, such as glyphosate (Roundup), has wiped out vast amounts of milkweed plants in agricultural areas.
• 🔥 Climate Change – Rising temperatures and extreme weather events disrupt monarch migration patterns.
• 🦠 Pesticides & Parasites – Insecticides kill butterflies and caterpillars, while the OE parasite (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) weakens monarchs.

Because monarchs rely entirely on milkweed as a host plant, the loss of milkweed means fewer places for them to lay eggs and feed their young. Without milkweed plants, monarch butterflies could face extinction.

🌱 What is Milkweed? Where Does It Grow?

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is a perennial wildflower native to North and South America. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family, which includes other well-known plants like oleander, hoya, plumeria, and the desert rose.

Unlike its fancy floral relatives, milkweed is a tough survivor. It grows along roadsides, in prairies, meadows, and even in urban gardens. With over 100 species, each adapted to different climates, you can find milkweed plants in dry deserts, wetlands, and temperate woodlands.

Popular ornamental milkweed species include:

• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) – A compact, non-spreading species with fiery orange flowers.
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) – Loves wet soils and attracts a wide variety of pollinators.
• Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) – Similar to Common Milkweed but less aggressive in its spread.

🦋 Why Is Milkweed So Important for Monarch Butterflies?

Without milkweed, there would be no monarch butterflies! Monarch caterpillars rely exclusively on milkweed plants as their only food source. Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed leaves, and once hatched, the tiny caterpillars munch away, growing into their iconic black, white, and yellow-striped bodies.

But here’s where it gets even cooler—milkweed isn’t just food; it’s a survival tool! Monarch caterpillars absorb toxic compounds called cardiac glycosides from the plant, making them poisonous to predators like birds. It’s their built-in chemical defense!

Milkweed supports monarchs at every stage:

• 🌱 Eggs: Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed leaves.
• 🐛 Caterpillars: Larvae feed on the leaves, growing rapidly.
• 🦋 Adults: Monarchs sip nectar from milkweed flowers, fueling their long migration journey.These milkweed species are excellent choices for gardens due to their manageable growth habits, stunning flowers, and ability to attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators.