Milkweed is the Host Plant

It is that time of year when everyone is tired of winter. E-mails and catalogs arrive on a daily basis filled with seeds and plants to buy for the upcoming growing season. Butterfly gardening has become popular. Plant companies sell plants that attract butterflies. What most gardeners do not know is that these plants are nectar plants. Butterflies feed on nectar which converts to energy so they can fly and reproduce. Nectar can come from 100's of flowers but there is something greatly missing ........ and that is......... The HOST PLANT!

Host plants are what the butterfly lays her eggs on. Unlike nectar plants, host plants are very species specific. Each kind of butterfly requires a specific type of plant for the larval caterpillar.  When the caterpillar hatches it has an instant meal. The plant it hatches on is the plant it thrives on. It would be nearly impossible for a tiny caterpillar to crawl in search of food. This is where the gardener can really help. Native plants are being pushed out by invasive and hybridized species. It is difficult for butterflies to find suitable and plentiful host plants.

Milkweed is the host plant for the Monarch Butterfly. Here are some facts and info about Milkweed from Butterfly Encounters:

Milkweed is the common name for a group of plants that belong to the Asclepias genus. This genus of plants is named after Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology.

The monarch larva consumes the milkweed leaves while ingesting cardiac glycosides. This makes the monarch toxic to predators.

There are over 100 species of milkweed in North America and the diversity of foliage and flower color is quite amazing. See the  Milkweed Photo Gallery. All milkweeds are herbaceous perennials, meaning they live for more than two years.  Some milkweeds can't handle freezing temperatures, there are two classifications:

1. Hardy Perennial - These milkweed species can survive below freezing temperatures in any zone in the United States. They go dormant in the winter months and return each spring.
2. Frost Tender Perennial - Some milkweeds fall into this category. You can grow them anywhere in the US. If you live in a zone that falls between 1 and 9, the plants die in the winter and you will have to replant from seed in the spring. In zones 10 - 11, they will grow year round.

You can purchase milkweed seeds or plants from Butterfly Encounters. Happy planting!