Blog  August 27, 2012

Plant butterflyweed for the Monarchs

The bright orange flowers of butterflyweed (Photo: Dave Barr)

A beautiful type of milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa is attractive to all kinds of pollinators, from bees to hummingbirds, but is especially valuable to the famous Monarch butterfly.

Growing up to 75 cm high with orange flowers in the summer, sun-loving butterflyweed is a key larval host and nectar source for the Monarch. Like all milkweeds, it’s poisonous to people and creatures, making the Monarch an undesirable dinner choice for predators.

With Monarch numbers diminishing, and abnormal precipitation patterns in Canada and Mexico (where Monarchs end their migration), planting butterflyweed in your garden will not only add a splash of colour but also help give this species a chance.

Learn more about butterflyweed and other native flowers in the Native Plant Database. Learn more about protecting monarch habitat; and for all you educators out there, check out the Monarch Teacher Network of Canada to find out how you can bring Monarchs (and their host plants!) into your classroom.