#native milkweed

[sunneskies]

Butterfly Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Showy Milkweed

Seen in St. Johns, North Portland On October 30, 2021 Asclepias speciosa Asclepias species have been in the news off and on for the last couple decades due to them being host plants for Danaus plex…

Asclepias species have been in the news off and on for the last couple decades due to them being host plants for Danaus plexippus (Monarch butterfly) whose decline, along with Apis mellifera (European honey bee), has led the way in bringing insect conservation to public attention. Asclepias species are specific host plants for D. plexippus who rely on Asclepias for every life stage except adulthood. Adults lay their eggs on an A. speciosa plant, when the eggs hatch the caterpillars consume the leaves of A. speciosa, absorbing the cardenolides produced by the plant. Cardenolides are steroid toxins that effect the heart of most mammals and make D. plexippus caterpillars taste foul to predators. The caterpillars form their chrysalis on an A. speciosa individual where they remain until they emerge as an adult butterfly. However, A. speciosa is important to more wildlife than just D. plexippus. A. speciosa offers a large quantity of nectar in exchange for pollination by bees, butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds, making it an important and preferred food source for these various pollinators.

[zackaran]

Narrowleaf or Mexican whorled milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) in my neighborhood. This is easily our most abundant local milkweed. The monarch butterfly’s larval food source and a critical habitat plant. I’ll probably guerilla plant these all over this fall

[ediblegardenspointloma]

Monarch Butterflies Are On The Rebound

After years of decline, the numbers of Monarch butterflies are up. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro speaks with Jorge Rickards of the World Wildlife Fund in Mexico about their promising rebound.

Good news! Plant milkweed that is native to your region. 

Check this list of Milkweeds by State from MonarchWatch.org

Use the Milkweed Seed Finder from Xerces Society

[ediblegardenspointloma]

Monarchs--Wind Beneath Their Wings

April 1, 2015

A few monarchs frequent my garden on these spring days. I've long wondered about the butterfly migration from Mexico and the monarch life cycle. The mystery is explained below.

The migration from Mexico began on March 24. You can read more at onEarth, the magazine of the National Resources Defense Council.

Here’s a monarch just emerged, wings wet. It landed on my jeans and stayed for a few minutes, wings drying in the sun. It was a magical time on a January day.

Plant milkweed to allow the monarchs to feed on the migration. But instead of the tropical milkweed seen here in my garden, plant native species. I've learned it’s preferred to prevent the spread of disease. But that’s another story. (If you grow the tropical milkweed, experts recommend cutting it back and keeping it dormant from October to February).

Search for native milkweed seed at The Xerces Society website. Put in your state and find vendors.

And revel in the beauty of these garden visitors.

Infographic: onEarth, National Resources Defense Council