Butterflies Adore These Eleven Types of Milkweed
In the world of gardening, milkweed stands out as a vibrant and essential choice for those seeking to attract pollinators and support local wildlife, particularly monarch butterflies. This article will explore various milkweed species, their unique characteristics, and recommended options for different regions.
Tall Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) grows up to 4 feet tall and produces elegant white and lavender flowers. It thrives in USDA zones 4 to 7 and is suitable for shaded or semi-shaded wooded areas.
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) can grow up to 3 feet tall and offers a unique, deep-hued bloom. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 and thrives in partially shaded pollinator gardens, woodland edges, or mixed perennial beds.
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) grows up to 5 feet tall and features pink or rose-colored flowers. It is a great choice for a rain garden and attracts a variety of pollinators. It thrives in USDA zones 3 to 9 and is suitable for wet or boggy areas.
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a warm-weather milkweed variety, growing up to 5 feet tall. It features bright red, orange, or yellow flowers and thrives in USDA zones 10 to 11. It is a great choice for tropical gardens and attracts a variety of pollinators.
Meadow Milkweed grows up to 6 feet tall and is ideal for naturalizing open fields or meadow-like settings. It thrives in USDA zones 3 to 9 and features fragrant clusters of pinkish-purple flowers during summer.
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) grows up to 6 feet tall and produces large, showy pink or white flowers. It thrives in USDA zones 3 to 9 and is suitable for open, sunny areas with well-drained soil. It is a great choice for a pollinator garden and adds a dramatic touch to any landscape.
Aquatic Milkweed is suitable for rain gardens or around ponds and water features, thriving in wet, soggy conditions.
Green Milkweed grows 1½ to 2½ feet tall and is drought resilient, blooming from late spring to mid-summer.
Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) is a drought-tolerant variety that thrives in USDA zones 4 to 10, growing up to 5 feet tall with cream, pale yellow, or greenish-yellow flowers. It is suitable for full sun and sandy soil, making it an excellent choice for a pollinator garden in arid regions.
Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) grows up to 3 feet tall and has slim, elegant leaves. It blooms from June to September with delicate pink and white flowers and thrives in USDA zones 6 to 10. It is a wonderful addition to a naturalistic garden style, drawing monarchs and beneficial bees while adding its own subtle beauty to the landscape.
Recommended milkweed ecotypes vary by region to best support local butterflies, particularly monarchs, because monarchs rely on native milkweed species for laying eggs and feeding caterpillars.
Antelope Horns (Asclepias asperula) is native to the western United States, suitable for USDA zones 7-9, and grows about 2 feet tall, making it perfect for sunny garden beds with well-draining soil.
Heartleaf Milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia) has heart-shaped leaves with blue and green hues, grows 1 to 2 feet tall, and thrives in USDA zones 7 to 10, flourishing in rocky or gravelly soil. Plant it in a partially shaded area to bring a graceful touch to a rock garden or mixed wildflower border.
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a widespread native milkweed with bright orange flowers, blooming from early summer to fall. It is essential for monarch caterpillars as the sole larval food and attracts diverse pollinators. It is easy to grow in gardens across many regions.
When choosing milkweed for your garden, it's essential to consider your region's climate and soil conditions. Consulting local extension offices or native plant societies can help identify the best native milkweed ecotypes adapted to your specific regional climate and soil conditions. This localized selection maximizes monarch butterfly oviposition success and larval survival by matching plant phenology and traits to the native lepidopteran behavior and habitat needs.
By choosing the right milkweed ecotype for your region, you can provide critical habitat for monarch butterflies and help promote their population recovery while adding beauty and diversity to your garden.
- The Tall Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) are suitable for home-and-garden lovers, as they grow up to 6 feet tall and produce elegant flowers, perfect for a pollinator garden.
- For those residing in arid regions, the Desert Milkweed (Asclepias erosa) is an excellent choice, a drought-tolerant variety that blooms with cream, pale yellow, or greenish-yellow flowers.
- For gardeners seeking a unique addition, Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) offers slim, elegant leaves and delicate pink and white flowers, drawing monarchs and beneficial bees to your garden.
- Homeowners with a tropical lifestyle and garden can enjoy Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), growing up to 5 feet tall with bright red, orange, or yellow flowers, thriving in USDA zones 10 to 11.
