Milkweed – The Elixir of Life for the Monarch Butterfly

We all know that monarch butterflies are decreasing in numbers here in the United States. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, butterfly numbers have decreased 20% in the last 2 decades! There are various reasons for this decline including loss of habitat due to agriculture expansion and urbanization, chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, deforestation and wide swings of temperature. Without butterflies, pollination would be in dire straits. We need pollination in order to reproduce fruits and seeds, which are essential to our food chains and supplies. As backyard gardeners, you can help increase the number of monarch butterflies by incorporating native milkweed into your gardens. As you’ll see by reading this post, milkweed is the elixir of life for the monarch butterfly.

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What is Milkweed?

Milkweed is a perennial plant mostly native to North America. It’s in the Apocynaceae family which includes flowers such as oleander, desert rose, and plumeria.

The “milk” in the name milkweed comes from the whitish sap that seeps out of the stem when broken, and the “weed” comes from the fact that some varieties can be invasive.

Milkweed can be poisonous to cats, dogs, livestock, and even humans if eaten in large quantities. Be careful which variety you choose, since the toxicity ranges from mildly toxic to highly toxic.

True Elixir of Life

Milkweed may be toxic to animals, however it is crucial to the monarchs’ survival. It serves as a critical host to the monarch caterpillar and is a viable source of nectar for other pollinators.

It is the only host plant on which monarch caterpillars can  reproduce and thrive. The monarch butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves of the plant and, once hatched, the larvae feed on the foliage. Without milkweed, monarch butterflies would not survive.

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Varieties of Milkweed, The Elixir of Life

There are over 100 species of milkweed, but there are 4 common varieties that are mostly grown in gardens and are the least toxic. They are  butterfly milkweed, common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and showy milkweed.

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is drought-tolerant with bright orange flowers and is compact in growth. The flat clusters of flowers bloom from June through August.

Common milkweed (Aslepias syriaca) spreads through rhizomes and is tall and highly attractive to monarchs. Plant this variety in a field where it can spread without being intrusive. It grows beautiful pinkish/purple compact flowers that are quite fragrant and which bloom from late spring to summer.

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) loves moist soils and attracts other pollinators as well as monarchs. It forms clump-like flowers that are rosy pink.

Showy milkweed ( Asclepias speciosa) is very similar to common milkweed but much less aggressive. This would be a nice addition to a smaller garden. This plant is native to the western parts of North America. You can see it growing profusely in fields of Montana. Its flower ranges from small, light colored pink star-shaped flowers to purple colored flowers.

Is All Milkweed Toxic?

Yes, all milkweed is toxic to some degree because the “sap contains toxins called cardiac glycosides or cardenolides” according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The amount of toxicity varies with the species of milkweed.

Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and/or heart irregularities if enough is ingested.

Be sure to research the toxicity of the native variety in your area.

The plant is naturally distasteful to animals and they instinctively avoid the plant. Therefore your house pets will not readily eat it.

If you are hesitant to plant milkweed, use the following precautions from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to make it safer.

Being careful and aware goes a long way

1. Wash your hands and use gardening gloves like you would any other plant.
2. Be careful to not include it in the hay of grazing animals and make sure there is always plenty of other food for them to forage. If the milkweed is mixed into hay, cattle and sheep can be affected.
3. Know that your pets will likely avoid it, but if you’re nervous, research the milkweed species you plant to see toxicity levels.
4. Take steps to prevent accidental ingestion, such as instructing children that the plant is poisonous and to avoid any contact with their skin and with their eyes if they do touch the plant.

Varieties to Avoid

Tropical Milkweed

Certain varieties of milkweed are more toxic to both animals and humans than others, and can even harm the monarch butterfly! One species of milkweed to especially avoid is the tropical milkweed ((Asclepias curassavica). This variety is not native to North America where varieties wither in the winter, but is native to the tropics such as Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and Central America where they live year round.

Tropical milkweed interferes with monarchs’ natural migration. They are tricked into staying in one place too long because the plants have an extra long blooming cycle and therefore the monarchs breed in climates unsuitable for survival.

Tropical milkweed can cause disease in monarchs. If the monarch comes in contact with this milkweed for a prolonged period, they risk contracting Ophryocitis elektroscirrha (OE) which is a crippling parasite that weakens the butterfly and can shorten its life.

Blue Milkweed Vine

Although not much is known about this new variety of milkweed which is not native to North America, it is best not to plant this in your garden.

How to Incorporate Milkweed, the Elixir of Life, Into Your Garden

There are many ways to incorporate milkweed into your garden. All varieties require full sun. If you prefer just a splash of color, choose 3 of the same variety and plant them in a triangular formation. Choose the variety that is native to your area and follow the directions on the tag.

For a more robust presentation, choose 3 or 4 varieties, 3 containers each, and plant the varieties together. Or you can scatter the varieties so no 2 of the same species are next to each other.

Pair the butterfly milkweed (orange variety) with a hardy blue geranium rozanne. The blue and orange compliment each other. Both plants are quite hardy, require full sun, are pest and disease-free, and have a long blooming season. Both plants are not fussy with soil.

Combine a purple rain salvia with the butterfly milkweed. The purple and orange are a delightful combination in a large garden. They also are easy to maintain, like full sun, and are disease and pest resistant.

Milkweed also pairs nicely with tall grasses.

Click here for more ideas on how to create pollinator gardens using native plants in the northeastern United States.

Benefits of Milkweed

Fields of milkweed create migration corridors in which monarchs can stop and feed along their journey. Some monarchs travel over 5,000 kilometers from Mexico to Canada and back again. Check out this amazing video of monarchs awakening in spring and taking flight .

Besides being an excellent pollinator for birds, bees, and butterflies, they also help with the following.

1. They deter soil erosion in the garden. Their root system is very strong and deep, so it stabilizes the soil. It is especially helpful on sloped areas. Their roots aerate the soil and add valuable nutrients to the soil.
2. Once the milkweed is established it is very hardy, including resistant to cold temperatures, and is low maintenance. Milkweed is also drought resistant, disease resistant, and pest resistant.
3. Again, it is a pollinator power house that provides nectar for many varieties of bees, butterflies, and birds.

Native Varieties and How to Grow Milkweed

Check out this site for some suggestions on native varieties of milkweed and how to grow the plant: National Wildlife Federation/ Twelve Native Milkweeds for Monarchs.

Conclusion: Milkweed – The Elixir of Life for Monarch Butterflies

Without fields of milkweed, monarchs would not exist. We as gardeners can help nurture their lives by incorporating milkweed into our gardens. A little goes a long way! Yes, it is poisonous. However, if you use caution you will not only provide a wonderful environment for monarchs now, but sustain this beautiful species for future generations to enjoy.

For more on butterflies and pollinators view Helper Bees in the Garden and Help Save the Butterflies.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please share it with friends and family and leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Gardening,

Nina

www.bestgardeningforbeginners.com

bestgardeningforbeginners@gmail.com