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Home , Asclepias, Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias tuberosa

Milkweed for Monarchs

Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed. Monarch need milkweed ( sp.) to grow and develop, and monarch need milkweed to lay their eggs. With shifting land management practices, we have lost much milkweed from the landscape. Please plant milkweed to support monarch populations, and their incredible migration! Planting milkweed is a great way to help other too, as they provide valuable

resources to a diverse suite of and butterflies.

We have identified milkweed species common to the regions of the U.S. mapped below that are known to be well-used by monarchs, and easy to establish in gardens and fields. Please use the directory of milkweed vendors to find locally- appropriate plants (see reverse), as well as the species Photo by Dave Wendelken Dave by Photo maps to confirm which species are native in your county. Northeast Region Milkweed Species Milkweed Regions Monarch Watch has grouped states by which milk- weed species are known to be important for monarchs, to divide the U.S. into six “Milkweed Regions”: 1) Northeast, 2) Southeast, 3) South Central, and 4) Western U.S.; 5) , and 6) .

Common Milkweed Swamp Milkweed Weed There are many other native milkweed species in each of these regions. We have highlighted a few species here that are known to be used by monarchs, and that Well drained soils. Damp, marshy areas. Well-drained soils. are easy to establish. Please try to find plants grown Photo by Louis-M. Landry Photo by Janet Allen Photo by Thomas Muller, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center as close as possible to where you’ll be planting them, and from the closest possible source.

Whorled Milkweed Poke Milkweed Prairies and open areas. Woodland areas (except in Photo © Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland NE, KS, MO, ND & SD). Photo by David Smith Southeast Region Milkweed Species

Butterfly Weed Whorled Milkweed White Milkweed Aquatic Milkweed Sandhill/Pinewoods Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias verticillata Well-drained soils. Prairies and open areas. Thickets and woodlands Hydrated soils. For use in some regions of FL. Photo by Thomas Muller, Photo © Kim Davis & Photo by Melton Wiggins Photo © Kim Davis & Dry sandy areas and soils. Lady Bird Johnson Mike Stangeland Mike Stangeland Photo © Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland Wildflower Center South Central Region Milkweed Species

Green Antelopehorn Milkweed Antelopehorn Milkweed Zizotes Milkweed Dry areas and prairies. Desert and sandy areas. Sandy or rocky prairies and fields. Photo by Harry Cliffe, Photo by Norman G. Flaigg, Photo by Jennifer Kleinrichert Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Western Region Milkweed Species Selecting and Finding NOTE: Excludes California and Arizona; see below for those regions. Milkweed Plants

We have listed milkweed species, for each region of the U.S., that we know are both valuable to monarchs and easy to establish. While any of these will work well in garden settings, for larger restorations please use species that are native in your county, and plant materials sourced as Showy Milkweed Mexican Whorled Milkweed locally as possible. You can find this information, together with a directory of native plant vendors Savannahs and prairies. Dry climates and plains, except that we know sell milkweed plants and / or , Photo by Robert Potts on our website: © California Academy of Sciences in CO, UT, NM & AZ. Photo by Christopher Christie www.plantmilkweed.org California Milkweed Species

Mexican Whorled Milkweed Showy Milkweed Desert Milkweed California Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis Asclepias speciosa Dry climates and plains. Savannahs and prairies. Desert regions. Grassy areas. Photo by Christopher Christie Photo by Robert Potts Photo by Christoper Christie Photo by Christopher Christie © California Academy of Sciences

For More Information, Please Contact:

Priya Shahani, Ph.D. National Program Coordinator Monarch Joint Venture Heartleaf Milkweed Woolly Milkweed Woolly Pod Milkweed Asclepias vestita Saint Paul, MN Email: [email protected] Rocky slopes. Dry deserts and plains. Clay soils and dry areas. Photo by Dee E. Warenycia Photo by © 2010 Neal Kramer Photo by Br. Alfred Brousseau, St. Ph. 612.625.8304 Mary's College Arizona Milkweed Species www.monarchjointventure.org

Butterfly Weed Antelopehorn Milkweed Rush Milkweed Arizona Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias asperula Well-drained soils. Desert and sandy areas. Desert areas. Riparian areas and canyons Photo by Thomas Muller, Lady Photo by Norman G. Flaigg, Lady Bird Photo by Sally and Andy Wasowski, Photo by Morris Family Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Johnson Wildflower Center Lady Bird Johnson Widlflower Center