Milkweeds and Monarch Butterflies

 

Butterflies visit a wide range of flowers in their search for nectar; but each type of butterfly is much more selective about where it will lay its eggs. Butterflies often choose just one type of plant for this purpose and their caterpillars are adapted to only eat this plant. The fate of butterflies is completely linked to the fate of the plants that provide food for their caterpillars.

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs only on milkweeds. A nice website, especially for children, that beautifully exhibits the lifecycle of the Monarch butterfly is: http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Cycle.htm.

There are several links on this page for additional photos and information.

There are over 100 different milkweeds in the United States, some being quite rare. All are members of the genus Asclepias. .If you want to encourage more Monarchs, you need to plant some milkweed or encourage and protect any wild milkweed patches in your area. For a list of all the milkweeds found in the United States, including range maps and photographs, go to:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASCLE

Most milkweeds have a milky white sap, hence the name. The plants are poisonous to most other insects as well as browsing mammals like cows and horses. The poisonous components of the sap, including alkaloids, give the Monarch caterpillars and butterflies a distastefulness that lessens their predation by birds. The attractive flowers, usually white, pink, or orange, are grouped in round umbels. They are popular sources of pollen and nectar for bees, wasps, and butterflies. The resultant seed pods are large and pointed and filled with numerous flat brown seeds. The ripe pods split, releasing the seeds to float gracefully in the air, as each is attached to several fine white filaments called floss.

There are milkweeds suitable for every type of garden climate and situation. Some do best in wet areas; others in very dry soils. Some spread rapidly to fill large areas; others fit well even in small gardens. For a list of the milkweeds we offer, go to our website: www.goodwincreekgardens.com/CatalogByCategory.asp?CategoryID=46

Milkweeds also have a list of other uses. The genus Asclepias was named for the Greek god of medicine in honor of its medicinal properties. The floss has great insulating properties comparable to goose down. Studies at Purdue University showed the potential of planting Asclepias syriaca and harvesting the floss for a cash crop. The dried pods of many species are wonderful in floral arrangements.

Go out and explore your neighborhood for milkweeds. Protect the ones you have and add some more to your garden.