Grow Native Butterfly Weed for Monarchs:- There is a type of milkweed that is more frequently known as butterfly weed, and it can be found in flower gardens. There is a widespread consensus that this particular form of milkweed is among the most advantageous options that are currently inside the market.
Grow Native Butterfly Weed for Monarchs
If you are interested in bringing this monarch host plant into your yard, you should give some consideration to doing so since it is a good idea to do so for a variety of different reasons, and you should absolutely do so. If you are interested in doing so, you should give so some attention.
Is Butterfly Weed a Type of Milkweed?
Butterfly weed belongs to the family of plants known as milkweed. The Monarch Joint Venture suggests that gardeners in the northeast, midwest, and southeast regions include this native milkweed in their collection of plants. According to what I’ve read, milkweed is the only plant plant that monarch caterpillars can feed on.
While I do not have milkweed, I do have butterfly weed in my garden. Approximately a dozen monarch caterpillars were found eating on the leaves when I stumbled upon them. Is this something that is not typical? Charlotte Hense, a reader from East Troy, Wisconsin, inquires about the magazine Birds & Blooms.
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According to Melinda Myers, a specialist in gardening, monarch caterpillars will consume all varieties of milkweeds, including butterfly weed. This species of milkweed does best in soil that is well-drained and receives full sunlight. Due to the fact that it is less aggressive than common milkweed, it is an excellent option for landscapes that are on the smaller side.
Additional varieties of milkweed, including red, swamp, showy, whorled, and green varieties, are also viable options. The Xerces Society provides helpful information that can be used to select the milkweed plants that are most suitable for your region.
Benefits of Growing Butterfly Weed
It is simple to comprehend the reasons why gardeners would decide to incorporate this plant into their gardens. Insects and other pollinators are drawn to this flowering perennial plant. The stunning orange flowers that it produces remain in bloom throughout the summer, making it a popular choice for use in cut flower gardens or dried flower arrangements.
The plant will become naturalised and return year after year if it is placed in a meadow environment; nevertheless, it does not spread itself in an aggressive manner. In addition, it is a plant that requires a quite minimal amount of maintenance, and it can thrive in poor, dry soil and even on slopes. Not only is it resistant to cold and drought, but it also has the ability to handle harsh situations with ease.
The majority of the time, it is resistant to deer in addition to being disease-free. In comparison to other milkweeds, it does not generate as much milk sap, which makes it an excellent choice for gardeners who have sensitive skin as well as for dogs.
Does Butterfly Weed Attract Pollinators?
It is likely that the most significant advantage of incorporating this plant into one’s garden is the increased presence of pollinators. The native butterfly weed attracts a large number of beneficial insects. It is a plant that serves as a host for monarch butterflies because it belongs to the family of butterfly milkweed. Not only will it attract black swallowtail butterflies, but it will also attract other pollinators like bees into the area.
Butterfly Weed Cultivars to Grow
There is a wide variety of options available to you when it comes to how to grow native butterfly weed. There is the option of purchasing it in seed form, as bare milkweed roots, or as live plants in containers that are gallon-sized. You can place an order for seeds or plants on the internet, or you can visit the garden centre in your area.
There is a cultivar of milkweed known as Gay Butterflies that may be grown in zones 4 to 11. Monrovia is responsible for its cultivation, and it shows off its blazing gold, yellow, and crimson flower clusters from the middle to the end of summer.