There are six species of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that are native to the Wilmington, NC area and can be grown for Monarchs and other butterflies such as Queen and Soldier butterflies. The Monarch butterfly in…
There are nine species of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that are native to the Raleigh, NC area and can be grown for Monarchs and other butterflies such as Queen and Soldier butterflies. The Monarch butterfly in…
South Carolina Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden There are twenty species of South Carolina milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that are native and can be grown for Monarchs and other butterflies such as Queen…
There are ten species of New York milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and one species, red milkweed (Asclepias rubra) that used to be present in New York and is considered “historic” to the state. Milkweeds are an important host species for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies. The Monarch butterfly in particular uses the cardenolides found in the milky sap of milkweeds to give an unpleasant taste to predators. These plants are also an important nectar source to all insects visiting your pollinator garden.
Maine Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden There are three species of Maine milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that are native to state and one, Asclepias tubrerosa, that was there historically. Milkweeds are an important…
North Carolina Milkweed Species to Include in your Butterfly Garden There are sixteen species of North Carolina milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that are natives and can be grown for Monarchs and other butterflies such as Queen…
Introduction to the Monarch Butterfly The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most well distributed and well-known butterflies in North America. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is in the subfamily Danainae.…
How does a plant completely abandon its leaves to survive the brutal xeric extremes of the Sonoran Desert while remaining an elite larval host for native pollinators? We look at the breathtaking architecture and survival mechanics of White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans). From its sticklike, glaucous stems coated in thick epicuticular wax to its complex umbels featuring reflexed corollas and bulbous hoods, discover the evolutionary adaptations that allow this 3-meter specimen to thrive. Read on to master the exact grit-heavy substrate profiles and zero-supplemental irrigation thresholds required to safely cultivate this structural masterpiece without triggering root-zone hypoxia or fungal rot.
Other than Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed is one of the more common species that is thought of for butterflies and in terms of milkweeds. Its orange flowers are distinctive and unlike most milkweeds,…