HOST FOR MONARCHS MID-SEASON PLANTS Monarch larvae feed exclusively on milkweeds. at least and Vines: ten individual milkweed plants in your garden. If pos- Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) sible, choose at least two different . Wild Ones recom- tea (Ceanothus americanus) mends you include common milkweed since it is the mon- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) arch’s preferred species of milkweed. It may grow into large Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) clumps, but if there is room in your garden, include it. creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) These are the native milkweed species that are recom- Sumac (Rhus typhina, Rhus glabra, Rhus spp.) mended by Monarch Watch, Wild Ones and the North Ameri- White meadowsweet (Spirea alba) can Butterfly Association for the northeast monarch migration Forbs: region (Midwest and Northeast USA): Nodding wild (Allium cernuum) Dogbane (Apocynum cannabium, A. androsaemifolium) Swamp milkweed ( incarnata) wildones.org Asclepias Common Milkweed (A. syriaca) Common milkweed () Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Land- Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata) Butterflyweed () Butterfly Milkweed (A. tuberosa) scapes promotes environmentally sound Wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis) landscaping practices to preserve biodi- Purple Milkweed (A. purpurascens) Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculta) versity through the preservation, restora- Prairie Milkweed (A. sullivanti) Tall thistle ( altissimum) tion and establishment of native plant Wild for Monarchs Whorled Milkweed (A. verticillata) Swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum) communities. Wild Ones is a national (, C. tripteris, Coreopsis spp.) not-for-profit environmental education Plant a native butterfly garden Poke Milkweed (A. exaltata) Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and advocacy organization. Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) or Monarch Waystation Boneset ( perfoliatum) To order a Monarch Waystation sign: monarchwatch.org and create your own NECTAR PLANTS FOR MONARCHS Joe Pye weed ( maculatum, E. purpureum) To order a North American Butterfly Assoc. sign: naba.org moments to remember Nectar plants provide food for adult monarchs and other False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) To order a Wild Ones Butterfly sign or to upload photos to pollinators throughout the season. Pick from early, mid- and Roundheaded bushclover (Lespedeza capitata) the Wild Ones website: wildones.org/learn/wild-for-monarchs late-flowering species and have at least three different kinds Blazingstar (Liatris spicata, L. liguistylis, Liatris spp.) or email [email protected] of plants in bloom at any time. Include the mid-season flow- Bergamot ( fistulosa) For local Wild Ones chapter contact: wildones.org/connect ering milkweeds. Not only will you offer a dependable food Dotted horsemint (Monarda punctata) source to the monarchs, but your butterfly garden will have Common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex) NEED MORE MILKWEEDS? Contact local native plant grow- visual interest all year long. Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) ers or your local Wild Ones chapter for information on their plant Try growing some of these native plants in your butterfly Yellow prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) sales. You can also order from Monarch Watch’s Bring Back the garden or Monarch Waystation. (Species listed alphabetically coneflower ( fulgida) Monarch program: monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs according to scientific names.) Blackeyed Susan () Wild senna (Senna hebecarpa) OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES EARLY NECTAR PLANTS Purple-stemmed aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) Monarch Joint Venture: monarchjointventure.org Shrubs: Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea, A. laevis, A. interior) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) For information North American Butterfly Association: nababutterfly.com Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) and plant lists • Bringing Nature Home, How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Flowering dogwood (Cornus ) specific to your Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy Spicebush ( benzoin) LATE-FLOWERING NECTAR PLANTS local area, Pussy willow (Salix discolor) : Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) • Urban and Suburban Meadows, Bringing Meadowscaping contact your Wild blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, V. angustifolium) Forbs: to Big and Small Spaces! by Catherine Zimmerman nearest Forbs: False aster (Boltonia asteroides) • Wild Ones: Wild Ones Journals and The Inside Story Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) Wild Ones by Janice Stiefel available from the Wild Store Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) Calico aster (Symphiotrychum laterifolius) chapter • Wild strawberry (Fragraria virginiana) Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) or visit : Creating Summer Magic in Your Garden by The Xerces Society & The Smithsonian Institution Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) wildones.org Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) Heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) • Milkweed, Monarchs and More by Ba Rea, Karen Oberhauser Wild phlox (Phlox divaracata) Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laevis) and Michael Quinn, updated 2nd Ed Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Common blue violet ( sororia, Viola spp.) Ironweed ( gigantea, V. missurica) Printing sponsored by Planting a Native Plant Butterfly Garden or Monarch Waystation*? Butterfly gardeners show they care deeply about the environment and their and depend predominantly on connection to nature. While providing food and shelter for monarchs and other Why native plants as their larval host plants. In the case pollinators, they also help to conserve native plants, reduce habitat fragmentation Native of monarchs, milkweed species are critical for their survival. Whenever possible, grow local genotype and increase biodiversity in the landscapes. Healthy ecosystems directly affect the Plants native plants that have co-evolved in their native quality of our food, water and air—and what could be more important than that? Matter habitats with other plants and wildlife, such as in- sect pollinators. Local genotype native plants are STEPS FOR SUCCESS vigorous and hardy. Adapted to their region, they can survive 1 Preparation: Evaluate your site and choose a spot with at for sensitive ecosystems. If seeding, use a nurse crop of an- winter cold and summer heat. The deep roots of native plants, least six hours of sunlight. Simply add native plants to an ex- nual rye or oats to reduce weed growth. especially those of prairie plants, and shrubs, hold soil, control erosion and withstand droughts. Native plants, once es- isting garden or replace a patch of lawn. If replacing a lawn, 4 Maintenance: At first, water regularly, remove weeds and start with a clean planting bed and remove non-native vege- keep mulched until the garden is established. Be pesticide free tablished, require little watering and better tolerate native pests. *Monarch Waystations is a certification program developed tation if necessary. Select plant species that match the light, since this garden is wildlife food. Some butterfly gardeners To prevent the local extinction of native flora, plants should be by Monarch Watch in 2005. Its aim is to develop places soil, pH and moisture conditions of your garden plot. See: cut back some stalks of summer milkweed (late June or early purchased from reputable nurseries and not dug from natural that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce wildones.org/learn July) to force new for monarch —be sure areas. For local genotype guidelines: wildones.org/learn/native- successive generations and sustain their migration. plants-and-landscaping/local-ecotype-guidelines 2 Design Considerations: To be visually appealing, select to transfer any eggs or larvae to plants that you don’t cut back. native plant species of varied heights that bloom at different Later in the season (August-September), practice benign neg- times. These will provide nectar for adult butterflies through- lect! In the fall, leave some dead leaves and stalks to provide “Without milkweeds there can be no monarchs” — Douglas W. Tallamy out the season. Don’t forget to include native grasses such overwintering sites for pollinators. Update your garden plan. as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) not only for Take an “after” photo of your garden. Want to get more involved? your Waystation through MonarchWatch.org or contrast, but also to help keep the blooming forbs upright. 5 Register e Collect native milkweed and encourage others to grow milkweeds. For details: NABA.org. If your Waystation or butterfly garden is planted Enhance your garden with least two types of milkweed for wildones.org/learn/wild-for-monarchs monarchs and additional host species for er pillars of other with at least 75% native species, please contact Wild Ones Join local efforts to protect and restore natural areas and monitor pollinators. Encourage butterfly species if you would like. For some species, en- for additional recognition. See contact info in this brochure. q land stewards of parks, preserves and wildlife areas to include more milkweed species in hance your garden by adding a butterfly puddling spot and 6 Monitor: Keep records of monarchs observed. Monarch their restorations. small brush pile for over-wintering species like mourning jointventure.org provides contacts for several monitoring pro- Talk to your friends, family and neighbors about the role of pollinators in food production cloak butterflies. Take a “before” photo of the site. grams. Each week or two, keep track of your observations, f and ecosystem health. 3 Plant Selection: Make a sketch of the planting plan and such as which plants are preferred by butterflies and other Lots of space? Plant native trees for butterflies and moths including: oak, cherry, willow color-code bloom times for early, mid-season and late flow- pollinators as host plants and nectar or sources. Take d and hackberry. ers. Fall-blossoming, nectar-rich plants are particularly im- photos of the garden throughout the season and share your portant to migrating monarchs. Make a list of your plant favorites on the Wild Ones website. See instructions at right. a Keep outdoor lighting turned off at night—light pollution may be harmful to some pollinators. species and check the number needed. Allow for sufficient 7 Share your or divisions of plants to help start another g Does your state follow a Roadsides for Wildlife program? If not, why not help start one? Work with your township room between plants as they mature, typically 12" on center. butterfly garden! Invite others to visit your garden or Waysta- to reduce roadside mowing if there are native species remaining. See: xerces.org/pollinator-conservation-roadsides Mulch to provide a weed barrier. Find a reputable native plant tion to enjoy the beauty of the butterflies in the natural land- i Find out about policy issues that affect pollinators and share information with your government representatives. nursery that carries plants and seeds from your area (local scape you have created. z Join your state’s landscape registry to be alerted to use of pesticide/herbicide applications by landscape services. genotype) and uses best management practices appropriate

Photo credits BECKY ERICKSON MARLENE FRISBIE BETTY HALL LAURA HEDIEN LIZ JONES JUDY KESSER CLAIRE KIM ROBERT LAUER STEVE MAASSEN RUTH OLDENBURG PATRICIA PANNELL JOE POWELKA JOHN WALTERS