What kind of milkweed is best for monarchs?
Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. syriaca) averaged the highest number of eggs.
What does monarch milkweed look like?
The flowers of this species are a soft white with just a hint of pink at their centers. Small clusters of flowers top nearly every stem, and despite the delicate appearance of this milkweed species, it can feed a lot of monarch caterpillars. You can buy seed of whorled milkweed here.
Is butterfly milkweed the same as milkweed?
Butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae). The genus name Asclepias is named after the Greek god of medicine Asklepios. The species name tuberose refers to the tuberous (knobby and with swellings) roots.
Which milkweed is bad for monarchs?
Tropical milkweed
Tropical milkweed can also interfere with monarch migration and reproduction. When grown in northern areas, where it can grow later in the year than native species, the presence of tropical milkweed may confuse monarchs into breeding at a time when they should be migrating.
Should I plant milkweed in my garden?
So the rule is: If you live along the California coast, plant nectar plants to support the monarchs migrating to and from overwintering sites; do not plant milkweed. It is best not to plant milkweed within 10 miles of an overwintering site.
Does milkweed come back every year?
These native milkweed are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. Their aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem) die back but their rootstock remains alive throughout the winter. Cut back milkweed stalks in the late fall or winter, after they have produced seed pods and these seeds have had time to mature.
What does common milkweed look like?
Common Milkweed- Asclepias syriaca Underground stems. Leaves: broad and thick, 10 to 20 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem and with pubescent undersides. Flowers: pale pink or violet, arranged in almost spherical umbels. Fruits: large spindle-shaped fruit, bumpy, rough and downy.
How can you tell the difference between milkweed and dogbane?
Differences: Common milkweed has a hairy stem, unlike dogbane. When mature, the dogbane stem branches in the upper portion of the plant. The flowers also look quite different. Common milkweed flowers are pinkish, large and ball shaped, whereas dogbane flowers are whitish green and in small clusters.
How many milkweed plants attract monarchs?
By planting at least two milkweed species, as well as other nectar-rich plants, you’ll attract monarchs and other pollinators throughout the breeding season.
Will monarchs find my milkweed?
Monarchs find milkweed using their sense of sight and smell (sensory receptors). They have sensory receptors in their antennae and front legs. Females will ‘taste’ milkweed with their feet prior to laying eggs on it.
Where should you not plant milkweed?
For these reasons, the Xerces Society does not recommend planting milkweed (non-native or native) close to overwintering sites (within 5-10 miles of the coast) in Central and Northern coastal California where it did not occur historically (see State of the Overwintering Sites Report for additional information).
Should I plant milkweed to save the monarchs?
Twelve Native Milkweeds for Monarchs (blog)
Do monarch caterpillars eat anything besides milkweed?
Answer (1 of 7): Adding on to what others have said, there are a few other foods that monarch caterpillars can eat, besides milkweed. These include cucumber, pumpkin, and butternut squash. However, there has not been any research done to see how the resulting butterflies fare in life.
What is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed?
This relationship status stems from the fact that the butterflies are one of the primary pollinators of the milkweed. And, according to research conducted recently by the University of Iowa, the monarch butterfly needs the native milkweed species not only as delicious nectar but also to host their eggs and larvae.
Is tropical milkweed killing monarch butterflies- grow or no?
Tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, has been much debated as a significant factor in monarch decline and disease for almost a decade. According to several studies, presence of the easy-to-grow, widely available perennial can encourage monarchs to break their reproductive diapause and stop migrating.