Where can you buy milkweed?
You can purchase milkweed seeds and plants at the following places: Xerces.org has a milkweed seed finder. Michigan Native Plant Producers. Monarch Watch's Milkweed Market.
Is milkweed native to Oregon?
Five species of milkweeds are native to Oregon and all are used as a larval host by western monarchs: The two most common species are showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) and narrowleaf milkweed (A. fascicularis) can be found throughout Oregon as shown by the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper:
How to grow milkweed to attract monarch butterflies?
MILKWEED can adapt to various growing conditions. However if you want to attract Monarch butterflies, which are a field species, your plants should ideally be located in an open space not too close to buildings or trees or tall shrubs. The photos below provide some examples of good and not-so-good locations to plant milkweed.
How to identify common milkweed?
- Flower color ranges from pink to light purple, fragrant
- Produces milky sap when leaves/stem broken
- Leaves are generally smooth, long, and narrow, tapering to a point
- Prefers wet ground
Where does milkweed like to grow?
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.
Does milkweed grow everywhere?
There are milkweed species that are native to every region of the USA and southern Canada. and many are adapted to a wide range of climates. However some species are quite particular as to their growing requirements. A few are found in swampy places, a sure hint as to where they will thrive around our homes.
Can you eat milkweed?
But did you know that common milkweed is also edible to humans? While monarch larvae dine on the leaves of older milkweed plants, humans can enjoy other parts of the plant. Milkweed has been eaten by Native Americans it its range for at least as long as we have ethnobotanical evidence.
Is milkweed toxic to dogs?
The Pet Poison Helpline reports that milkweed is a moderate to severe poisoning in dogs and cats, which means get to the vet as soon as you suspect your pet has ingested the plant, or even butterflies or caterpillars that eat milkweed. Buddy's symptoms were typical for poisoning, but other signs include: Drooling.
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.
What zones can milkweed grow in?
Common milkweed grows in zones 4-9, and reaches a height of about three feet. It's the plant we're most familiar with seeing growing in the wild.
Do milkweed plants spread?
“Common milkweed spreads by rhizomes (underground runners or roots) which is why it can be such an aggressive spreader. By planting it within a fairly dense planting of other native species, you leave minimal room for the rhizomes to travel.”
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.
Where is milkweed native to?
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Tropical milkweed is an annual plant that is no native to the US (Woodson, 1954). It is native to Central and South America (Broyles and Stoj 2019). Electronic records show that tropical milkweed was planted in gardens in the US as early as 1806 (Satterfield et al., 2015).
Where does swamp milkweed grow?
Swamp Milkweed is a native perennial of the eastern and central United States and southern Canada (Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia). It is common in wetlands. Swamp milkweed will often have multiple stems up to 2 m tall and it can have several stems coming from one single root crown (Ivey et al., 2003). Each stem on average can have 22 pink ...
How long does a swamp milkweed flower last?
Flowers will last about 5 days and each flower produces about 1.5 uL of nectar each day, with a mean sucrose concentration of 30% (C.T. Ivey, unpublished data). Monarchs often lay eggs on fresh shoots that are easier for caterpillars to feed on. Swamp milkweed can spread highly efficiently by shooting out rhizomes.
How does milkweed spread?
It prefers well-drained soils. Common milkweed can spread highly efficiently by shooting out rhizomes that can form large clones of up to several thousand stems (Wilbur, 1979). This means a patch of common milkweed could actually just be a single plant.
What is the color of swamp milkweed?
This means a patch of Swamp milkweed could actually just be a single plant! Key Characteristics of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Flower color ranges from pink to light purple, fragrant. Produces milky sap when leaves/stem broken. Leaves are generally smooth, long, and narrow, tapering to a point.
Where does antelope horn milkweed come from?
Antelope horns milkweed is native to the western United States and is found in savannas and prairies. Its name comes from the curved shape of the seedpods that often resembles antelope horns.
What are the characteristics of milkweed?
Key Characteristics of Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca: Flower color ranges from pink to white, highly fragrant. Milky sap when leaves/stem broken. Fine hairs on underside of leaves—soft and velvety! Mature leaves typically quite broad.
Where is milkweed native to?
Another non-native milkweed is giant milkweed, also known as crown flower ( Calotropis giganteana ). It is native to Asia and tropical Africa. Giant milkweed makes an excellent specimen plant in Florida-Friendly landscapes between USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. As its name suggests, mature plants are quite large, up to 15 feet tall and wide. For this reason we suggest adding it to the back layer in a pollinator garden.
How big is a milkweed plant?
As its name suggests, mature plants are quite large, up to 15 feet tall and wide. For this reason we suggest adding it to the back layer in a pollinator garden. Giant milkweed. Like all milkweeds, the giant milkweed has milky sap and is a larval host plant for butterflies.
What is the only plant that monarch butterflies eat?
Perhaps most famously, milkweed species serve as the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Milkweeds in the genus Asclepias provide the only plant material monarch caterpillars can eat. And this popular plant hosts many more besides monarchs. Queen and soldier butterflies rely on the leaves to feed their young, too.
What is the most popular milkweed in Florida?
Adding these natives will make your landscape a refuge for Florida's flora and fauna. Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is one of the most available and popular native species of milkweed. It sports attractive, bright blooms and is very hardy. For these reasons it is frequently stocked in nurseries around the state.
What is the only plant that monarch butterflies can use to complete their life cycle?
Milkweed is the only host plant the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) can use to complete its lifecycle. Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org
How tall do milkweeds grow?
Many Florida species used in the landscape prefer dry, sandy soil and are moderately drought tolerant. Milkweeds generally grow quickly, reaching a final height of one to four feet tall, depending on the species.
How many species of milkweed are there in the Sunshine State?
Queen and soldier butterflies rely on the leaves to feed their young, too. The Sunshine State is home to more than twenty species of milkweed, almost all of which are native. A couple of these species, in fact, are endemic, meaning they're found only in our state.
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.
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.
How many beetles are there in milkweed?
Two beetles (Order Coleoptera) are common on milkweed. The 26 different milkweed longhorn beetles ( Tetraopes spp. in the family Cerambycidae) each prefer a different species of milkweed. Of the 13 that occur in the US, only three species occur in the east, and the most common species in Wisconsin is the red milkweed beetle, T. tetraophthalmus.
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.
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 does Asclepias syriaca spread?
Asclepias syriaca spreads both via seeds and rhizomes, forming colonies . At the very least, you may wish to remove the seed pods before they open. Otherwise, they will spread to distant corners of your yard (and beyond), thanks to the silky appendages that allow the seeds to waft on the slightest breeze.
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 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.
How big is a milkweed leaf?
The leaves are opposite, oblong, and can be 10-25 cm long and 4-12 cm wide with a rounded leaf tip. If you do not like common milkweed, another good choice would be butterfly milkweed. It is more accepted as a landscape plant.
Why do monarch butterflies eat milkweed?
Butterflies, especially Monarch's, use milkweed to lay their eggs on and then the developing larvae will feed on the milkweed plants. According to the USDA plants database, milkweed plants are the only plants that larvae will feed on so they can develop into a chrysalis and eventually butterfly. Monarch populations are declining, so anytime we can use a plant that may help lead to an increase in population would be great.
What is the name of the plant that has milky sap?
Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, is a member of the milkweed family, so it has a milky sap. The small flowers are held in a large cluster and they are light pink to rose colored. The seeds are held in a follicle on the plant that splits open when mature.
What is the name of the plant that gives habitat to monarch butterflies?
Nicole Stoner , University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, provides a monthly feature on plants to consider for your acreage. This month, she has a great plant that gives habitat to Monarch Butterflies, Common Milkweed.
Is milkweed a native wildflower?
For May I have chosen a plant that is not only a native wildflower, but it is a plant that is great for the monarch migration that should also begin to move through Nebraska sometime in May, Common Milkweed. Yes, many people view common milkweed as a weedy plant species, but it is a great native wildflower for any low maintenance area ...
Do milkweeds need to be planted?
They are an easy plant to grow for color and to provide habitat for butterflies. And honestly you don't even really need to "plant" them. Just let wild plants grow instead of pulling them out when they appear in low maintenance areas of your landscape.
Can you eat milkweed?
However, all milkweeds are pois onous to humans and livestock, so they should not be eaten by us today. Common milkweed, if used in the correct location, can be a great addition to your landscape. But if common milkweed is a little too "weedy" for you, consider adding butterfly milkweed in your perennial gardens.
How long is a milkweed plant?
It varies in length from 10 to 18 millimeters. Large milkweed bugs feed mainly on seeds inside milkweed pods. Adult milkweed bugs occasionally take nectar from milkweed flowers or suck sap from the milkweed plant. Like monarch butterflies, large milkweed bugs sequester toxic cardiac glycosides from the milkweed plant.
Where do milkweed sapsuckers come from?
Also called oleander aphids, they are native to the Mediterranean region but spread to North America with oleander plants. Milkweed aphids now are well established in the U.S. and Canada.
What is a milkweed tussock moth?
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars can defoliate a stand of milkweed in a matter of days.
What is a swamp milkweed beetle?
Its legs, pronotum (plate covering the thorax), head, and underside are uniformly black, but its elytra (forewings) are boldly marked in deep reddish orange and black. The swamp milkweed beetle is one of the seed and leaf beetles.
What color is the milkweed bug?
It shares the orange and black color scheme of the large milkweed bug, but its marking is different. The orange or red bands on the dorsal side form a bold X marking, although the center of the X isn't complete. The small milkweed bug also has a dull red spot on its head.
How many times have blue milkweed beetles mate?
One blue milkweed beetle earned an honorable mention in the University of Florida Book of Insect Records for this behavior. She is believed to have mated 60 times .
Where do milkweed beetles lay their eggs?
Mated females deposit eggs on milkweed stems, near the ground, or below the soil line. Red milkweed beetle larvae develop and overwinter within the roots of the milkweed plants and pupate in the spring.
What is the milkweed in Florida?
A. perennis (aquatic milkweed) occurs only in hydrated soils. A. humistrata (sandhill/pinewoods milkweed) is recommended for some regions of Florida. Southeast Ecoregions include: M222, 231, M231, 232, 234, & 411.
What are the milkweeds used by monarchs?
fascicularis (Mexican whorled/narrowleaf milkweed), A. erosa (desert milkweed), A. californica (California milkweed), A. cordifo- lia (heartleaf milkweed), A. eriocarpa (woolypod milkweed) and A. vestita (woolly milkweed). Of these, A. fascicularis is the most widespread and widely used by monarchs. A. speciosa is used as a host in the northern half of the state. Each species has a unique distribution within California and restoration efforts should target counties in which these species are known to occur. Seed is available for A. fascicularis and to a lesser extent for A. speciosa but is scarce to non-existent for the other species.
Where do monarchs breed?
These regions represent the main summer breeding areas for monarchs in the eastern United States. The main monarch host plant is Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed). Other species used by monarchs, in order of their abundance and preference, are A. incarnata (swamp milkweed), A. tuberosa (butterflyweed), A. verticillata (whorled milkweed), and A. exaltata (poke milkweed).
What is the Southeast?
Southeast. The Southeast includes all states south of the 36th parallel, and westward from the Atlantic seaboard to the 95th meridian in eastern Oklahoma (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, TN).
Which species is used as a host in California?
Of these, A. fascicularis is the most widespread and widely used by monarchs. A. speciosa is used as a host in the northern half of the state. Each species has a unique distribution within California and restoration efforts should target counties in which these species are known to occur.
Where is speciosa found in the Southwest?
The Southwest region includes Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and West Texas. A. speciosa occurs at the higher elevations in each of these states (except West TX) and is a good choice for restoration at these higher eleva- tions.
Where is the West region?
The west region covers the area west of the 100th meridian except West TX, AZ, NM, NV, and CA. Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) occurs in all the western states and is the top choice for restoration in this region with A. latifolia (broadleaf milkweed) a second choice.
What color are milkweed nymphs?
Planting more milkweed will ensure that they both have enough to eat. Identification: Adults are overall black and orange- with black band in the middle and two large black spots in front and back. Nymphs are bright orange and develop black spots late. .
What do milkweed bugs eat?
They have been reported feeding on honey bees, monarch caterpillars and pupae, and dogbane beetles, among others ( Root 1986 ). The best method to remove the bugs from your milkweed plant is to grab them and throw them into a bucket of soapy water. Identification.
How many eggs do milkweeds lay?
Life Cycle: Eggs are laid in milkweed seed pods or in crevices between pods. About 30 eggs are laid a day , and about 2,000 over a female's lifespan, which lasts about a month during the summer. One or more generations per year. They can't survive cold winters, so they migrate south in the fall.
Can monarch caterpillars eat milkweed?
Harmful to Monarch caterpillars/eggs? No. They are herbivores and only eat milkweed. They are harmless to monarch larvae and eggs so you can leave them on your milkweed plant if you have enough to go around.
Do milkweed leaf beetles sequester glycosides?
Note: Unlike the Monarch, larvae and adults of the milkweed leaf beetle are not thought to sequester cardiac glycosides from their milkweed host.
Do milkweeds eat flowers?
Sometimes. They are mostly herbaceous and will suck nectar from flowers and sometimes feed on milkweed seeds. However, they have been reported to be predators, especially in spring when milkweed seeds are scarce.
Is milkweed harmful to monarch caterpillars?
Harmful to Monarch caterpillars/eggs? Technically, no, because they are herbaceous. However they do feed on milkweeds, especially Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), but also Common Milkweed (A. syriaca). To control populations from eating all of your milkweed, you can pick them off and put them in a soapy bucket of water.
Where does milkweed come from?
Milkweed comes from the genus Asclepias, which is derived from the name Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine and healing. American Indians and settlers used the roots of this plant for treating respiratory illnesses and other ailments. Asclepias consists of 130 species.
What is so special about milkweed?
What's so special about milkweed? Milkweed is the sole host plant of the monarch butterfly. Monarchs lay eggs specifically on milkweed, the eggs hatch into caterpillars and the caterpillars eat the foliage. The leaves contain cardiac glycosides, compounds that affect heart function, making them toxic to most species of birds and mammals. By ingesting the leaves, monarch larvae become toxic and predators avoid them.
How tall does Butterflyweed grow?
Butterflyweed ( Asclepias tuberosa) Butterflyweed favors full sun in dry to medium soil. It is a hardy, drought-tolerant species reaching one to three feet in height with a spread of one to two feet. The bloom period ranges from late summer to fall.
How to get milkweed seeds to germinate?
Burying the seeds can reduce germination rates since milkweed seeds need light to germinate. Just drop the seeds in the garden and press them down with your hand. Once you've sprinkled the seeds over the soil there's nothing else to do but wait. In spring, they'll germinate and begin to grow.
What is the flower color of swamp milkweed?
Swamp milkweed has a long summer bloom period and flowers can range from mauve-pink to purple. Five tiny delicate petals are crowned with five nectar cups that are crucial in its intricate pollination. This species of milkweed is a great choice for wetland mitigation.
How tall is swamp milkweed?
As the common name suggests, swamp milkweed grows best in wet soil with full sun or partial shade. It can reach a height of four to five feet and should be spaced two to three feet apart. The narrow, smooth leaves are, lance-shaped and 3 to 6 inches long. Swamp milkweed has a long summer bloom period and flowers can range from mauve-pink to purple. Five tiny delicate petals are crowned with five nectar cups that are crucial in its intricate pollination. This species of milkweed is a great choice for wetland mitigation.
Is milkweed poisonous to birds?
The leaves contain cardiac glycosides, compounds that affect heart function, making them toxic to most species of birds and mammals. By ingesting the leaves, monarch larvae become toxic and predators avoid them. Milkweed comes from the genus Asclepias, which is derived from the name Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine and healing.