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How to Grow Milkweed for Monarchs: How Your Garden Can Help

Pollinator gardening

Jul 25, 2022

Monarch butterfly populations are in trouble. They’ve been declining for years because milkweed plants and wildflowers have been eradicated as land management practices have changed. Areas that used to be wild and teeming with milkweed plants are now becoming urban and suburban developments or are being cleared for agricultural use. Widespread use of pesticides and herbicides also threatens these vibrant orange butterflies.

Closeup of monarch butterfly on pink milkweed flowers

So what can we do to help Monarchs? One simple way is by planting milkweed seeds.

Why Monarchs Need Milkweed Plants

Milkweed is essential to the monarch because this plant is the butterfly’s nursery. They only lay their eggs on milkweed, and in turn, milkweed protects the butterfly throughout its life cycle.

Milkweed leaves are the only source of food for a newly emerged monarch caterpillar. These leaves contain substances called cardenolides that are poisonous to birds and other vertebrates. (That includes humans and pets, so never eat milkweed, and wash the sticky sap off of your hands immediately.)

As the monarch caterpillars eat the leaves, this toxin helps to protect the caterpillar and butterfly from predators.

Nectar for Monarchs

Monarchs need more than milkweed to survive. Unlike the caterpillar, adult monarch butterflies get their nutrition from a variety of plant nectars. Just as milkweed plants are in decline, so are wildflowers and other nectar-producing plants. The good news is that you can be part of the solution to the reduction in monarch populations by planting milkweed and lots of flowers for these beautiful butterflies.

Grow a Pollinator Garden

A pollinator-friendly garden is a great start, or maybe a wildflower garden. Monarchs and other pollinators love zinnias, cosmos, lantana, butterfly bush, and many other beautiful and colorful flowers that will make your yard lovely.

Three monarch butterflies on milkweed flowers

There are many varieties of milkweed. Make sure any milkweed species you purchase is appropriate for your area so that it grows well. This also helps the monarch to migrate properly. The butterflies use the plants as landmarks or clues about where they should be during different times of the year.

Milkweed Seed Starting Tips

Growing milkweed from seed is easy, but a few tips can help you get the most out of each package of seed.

Milkweed is slow to germinate, so cold-stratifying the seeds is a great idea. Simply sprinkle seeds onto a moist paper towel, fold the towel, and insert it into a plastic bag. Place the bag in a refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.
Sow seeds indoors in a warm and bright location. Milkweed seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover the seeds with no more than ¼” soil.
Keep your seeds moist until they sprout, but do not overwater.
When all danger of frost is past, harden your milkweed seedlings off and transplant them outside.

Growing Tips for Milkweed Plants

Full sun is important for growing milkweed plants. Make sure they get direct light for at least 6 hours a day.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) can spread, so it is best planted in areas where it won't overtake other plants.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) are two milkweed species that integrate well in perennial flower beds.
To keep milkweed from self-seeding, pick seed pods before they are fully developed. Or leave them to grow and drop seeds if you want your milkweed plants to keep spreading.

These important butterflies are beautiful, and they’re also an essential part of the North American ecosystem. It’s worth the effort to do what we can to help them survive.

Grow Milkweed for Monarchs!

Thank you for helping monarchs. Talk your friends into planting gardens with lots of flowers, including milkweed! The more butterfly habitat, the better for all of us.