What is milkweed for pollinators?
Milkweed is the only host plant the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) can use to complete its lifecycle. Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org Milkweed is the poster plant for pollinator gardens.
What is milkweed and why is it important?
Milkweed is the only host plant the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) can use to complete its lifecycle. Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org Milkweed is the poster plant for pollinator gardens. Not only is it attractive, it's an important nectar source for bees and other insects.
What is the taxonomy of milkweed?
Plant taxonomy classifies common milkweed plants as Asclepias syriaca. Milkweed plants are herbaceous perennials. Common milkweed plants are tall (3 feet), thin, summer-bloomers. The flower cluster forms a globe atop the plant's rigid stem. The flowers come in various shades of pink, and they are fragrant flowers.
Does milkweed have milky sap?
Like all milkweeds, the giant milkweed has milky sap and is a larval host plant for butterflies. The large purple or white flowers are pollinated by bees and butterflies and are used in making Hawaiian lei. Giant milkweed is a hardy plant and can tolerate the hot sun and sandy soil in Florida.
What are butterfly host plants?
Host plants are the plants where butterflies and moths lay their eggs. They're important because those plants are what a new caterpillar will start to eat after it has hatched—and after it has consumed its egg shell. A female butterfly will lay her eggs in clusters or as single eggs, depending on the species.
What kind of plant is milkweed?
milkweed, (genus Asclepias), genus of about 140 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants belonging to the dogbane family Apocynaceae (formerly in Asclepiadaceae). Milkweeds are found throughout North and South America, and several are cultivated as ornamentals.
Is milkweed a host or nectar plant?
Many butterflies have a single plant required as a food source for their larval form called a host plant. Milkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterfly.
Is milkweed an invasive plant?
The common milkweed is very aggressive and invasive and take over your butterfly garden very quickly. Luckily, there are several non-invasive alternatives that serve butterflies and pollinators. The key is to match the milkweed plant to your garden's conditions.
Where should you not plant milkweed?
It is not recommended to plant milkweed within 10 miles of the coast in central and northern California where milkweed did not occur historically. Instead, plant a variety of flowers native to your region that provide nectar from early spring through fall to support monarchs and other pollinators.
Why is milkweed a problem?
Milkweed hosts a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). As caterpillars, monarchs ingest the parasite along with their normal milkweed meals, and when they hatch from their chrysalises they are covered in spores. "It's a debilitating parasite," Satterfield says.
Is milkweed the only host plant for monarchs?
Milkweed is the sole host plant to the monarch butterfly's caterpillar, but keeping milkweed as part of our landscape is important to more than just monarch butterflies. Here some species that also use milkweed in various ways.
Do bees like milkweed?
"Very fond of milkweed blossoms, bees will desert other flowers when these are available. The plants provide a good nectar flow. Bees discard the pollen. Assuming enough plants are available, milkweeds can bring a good crop of honey."
Should I plant milkweed in my garden?
If you want monarch butterflies to visit your garden this fall and spring, planting milkweed in your landscape is a must! Not only is milkweed a great nectar source for thirsty pollinators, it is also THE ONLY host plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs upon.
Is milkweed good for anything?
Although potentially poisonous, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes as well. Many indigenous tribes applied milkweed sap for wart removal and chewed its roots to treat dysentery. It was also used in salves and infusions to treat swelling, rashes, coughs, fevers and asthma.
Where should you plant milkweed?
Best growing practices suggest milkweeds be planted in the sunniest parts of your yard or garden. If you have a choice of soil, most milkweed species thrive in light, well-drained soils with seeds planted a quarter-inch deep.
Which milkweed is least invasive?
Swamp milkweed is not invasive as some other milkweeds are and behaves well in the garden.
How poisonous is milkweed?
All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, which can cause nausea, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion in small amounts, and seizures, heart rhythm changes, respiratory paralysis, and even death in large amounts. Milkweed can also irritate the skin and eyes if touched.
What is milkweed good for?
Although potentially poisonous, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes as well. Many indigenous tribes applied milkweed sap for wart removal and chewed its roots to treat dysentery. It was also used in salves and infusions to treat swelling, rashes, coughs, fevers and asthma.
Should I plant milkweed in my garden?
If you want monarch butterflies to visit your garden this fall and spring, planting milkweed in your landscape is a must! Not only is milkweed a great nectar source for thirsty pollinators, it is also THE ONLY host plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs upon.
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 is milkweed?
Common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca) is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterflies —especially the monarch, which deposits its eggs on the milkweed. When the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the leaves of milkweed. Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit.
What is milkweed attractive to?
Attractive to Monarch Butterflies. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca) is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterflies —especially the monarch, ...
How many types of milkweed are there in the US?
There are over 100 native species of milkweed plants in the United States, including common milkweed. In addition to common milkweed, here are some of the most popular types of milkweed within the Asclepias genus, which come in different heights and colors:
How to propagate milkweed?
Propagating common milkweed by taking cuttings can be easier than dividing rhizomes because milkweed tends to grow deep taproots, which can be tricky to dig up. With cuttings , you can create new plants in a short period of time which is ideal if you want to get a quick start to creating your butterfly garden. Here are the steps for propagating milkweed plants with cuttings:
How tall does milkweed grow?
Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit. The long, oblong leaves are light green and grow to about 8 inches long. The stems and leaves bleed a milky sap when cut, which gives the plant its name. In late spring to mid-summer, fragrant clusters of pink-purple flowers appear.
What are the bugs that eat milkweed?
The usual suspects are attracted to common milkweed, including milkweed bugs (which don't do too much harm, in fact), aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, spider mites, thrips, and leaf miners. Hose, spray from a bottle, or use fingernails to scrape off the offenders. Snails and slugs also love young tender milkweed plants. Snail bait works well and won't harm monarchs, but as the plants grow, the snail problem minimizes.
What are milkweed seed pods used for?
This is not a particularly attractive plant, but in addition to its value in attracting butterflies, the seed pods can be used in dried flower arrangements. The flowers are also quite fragrant, and gardeners specializing in native species often grow milkweed.
What is the best milkweed to plant?
Three species have particularly wide ranges and are good choices in most regions: common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ), swamp milkweed ( A. incarnata ), and butterflyweed ( A. tuberosa ). The latter two are highly ornamental and widely available via the nursery trade.
Why is milkweed important to monarchs?
As such, milkweed is critical for the survival of monarchs. Without it, they cannot complete their life cycle and their populations decline. Indeed, eradication of milkweed both in agricultural areas as well as in urban and suburban landscapes is one of the primary reasons that monarchs are in trouble today.
Why are butterfly host plants important?
Host plants are important elements for your garden as they provide a place for butterflies to lay eggs and are a food source for emerging caterpillars. Most caterpillars are specific about the type of plant they eat and the butterflies will look for suitable plants on which to lay their eggs. By planting a variety of host plants you create a habitat that supports the lifecycle of many butterfly species.
Can you plant butterflies in 4.5 square pots?
All of the plants at Butterfly Gardens to Go are grown without the use of harmful pesticides and are safe for butterflies and developing larva. Plants are grown in 4.5″ square pots unless otherwise specified.
Where do milkweeds come from?
This species occurs from Central America to southern Canada, but does not survive the winter in cold locations like Wisconsin and has to re-invade from the south every year. Northern populations migrate over longer distances than southern and tropical populations, and movements correlate with flowering of milkweeds. The adults migrate south in the fall to overwinter in the southern Atlantic and Gulf coast states, then new generations gradually migrate north again in the spring and summer. In mild climates there can be up to three generations per year, but just a single generation is produced in Wisconsin. This species prefers common milkweed, but will feed on other species of Asclepias, and even other plants in the same family if its preferred food is unavailable.
What are the common insects that live on milkweed?
Common Milkweed Insects. Written by susan.mahr. Monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) caterpillars are probably the one insect most people associate with milkweeds ( Asclepias spp.). But if you’ve ever grown or just observed milkweeds, likely you’ve encountered some other insects on those plants. Not many insects are able to feed on milkweeds.
What is the color of the pronotum on a milkweed bug?
There is a red band on the pronotum instead of orange margins as on the large milkweed bug. The nymphs look very similar to large milkweed bug nymphs but are a brighter red and have two diagonal black markings on the pronotum. This species overwinters in Wisconsin as an adult.
What color are milkweed bugs?
Milkweed bugs have bright red or orange aposematic (warning) color ation.
What do monarch butterflies eat?
Although they feed primarily on seeds, adults will sometimes feed on monarch butterfly caterpillars or pupae or other insects trapped in milkweed flowers, or consume nectar from various flowers.
Why are there red and orange bugs on milkweed?
The insects that have this ability typically have aposematic markings, or warning coloration, advertising their toxicity. This is why so many insects found on milkweed plants have conspicuous red or orange colors or markings.
Why do milkweed leaves have toxic chemicals?
The sticky white sap that gives milkweed its common name and the leaves contain toxic chemicals (cardiac glycosides) to deter mammals and insects from feeding on the foliage. Only certain insects which have evolved to be able to deal with those chemicals without being poisoned can thrive on the plants, and have become specialists on milkweeds.
Overview
Significance
Safety
- It is important not to use pesticides in a butterfly garden, as the same chemicals that kill destructive insects will also kill butterflies and their larva. Most gardeners find, though, that once a garden goes chemical-free, it establishes a good balance of beneficial, predatory insects, as well as providing songbirds with a source of food (many bird species consume large quantities of ins…
Causes
- Plant milkweed about 18 inches apart; their rhizomatous roots will quickly fill in the space between plants. There's no need to fertilize milkweed plants, as they tolerate poor soils. Your biggest maintenance challenge with them will probably be in containing them. Asclepias syriaca spreads both via seeds and rhizomes, forming colonies.
Cultivation
- Milkweed spreads easily via rhizomatous roots; cutting root sections and planting them so the roots are just buried will easily propagate the plants. Milkweed can also be grown easily from collected seeds planted about 1 inch deep in the garden.
Toxicity
- Common milkweed leaves and roots are toxic to humans, but only if it is consumed in large amounts. The plant has actually been a food source for Native American tribes, who carefully prepared it by cooking. Wild-food enthusiasts continue to cook and eat the plant today. However, eating large quantities of unprepared milkweed may cause bloating, fev...
Types
- Many find butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), with its bright orange flowers, a more attractive type of milkweed than the common milkweed. Another type of milkweed is swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), which is a good choice for moist soils.
Uses
- This is not a particularly attractive plant, but in addition to its value in attracting butterflies, the seed pods can be used in dried flower arrangements. The flowers are also quite fragrant, and gardeners specializing in native species often grow milkweed. Milkweed has a history of medicinal use, but be aware that the leaves and the milk-like substance within are poisonousit's …
Management
- There are no serious disease or pest problems with common milkweed. The most serious issue is its aggressive spreading habit. Removing seed pods will prevent the plant from self-seeding far and wide. Periodically, you may need to dig up the plants during fall and discard all but selected portions of the roots to keep the plant tamed in the garden.