common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Common milkweed produces dusty pink flower clusters in mid-summer atop large, glossy leaves that resemble … Continued
browsing: Monarch Host Plants
Host plants feed caterpillars. Adults lay eggs on these plants so the newly hatched caterpillars can begin eating right away. As they grow, caterpillars molt and progress to the next instar—1st instar, 2nd instar, 3rd instar, and so forth. Watch for all stages of caterpillar instars and signs of insect feeding on foliage. Holes and jagged-edged leaves are a sign of success in the butterfly garden.
Planting a nectar garden provides food in the form of flowers for adult butterflies, bees, and many other pollinators. Butterfly gardens should always include host and nectar plants to feed lepidopteran species in all life stages.
Vinland Valley Nursery is a registered Monarch Waystation #1085 since February 4, 2007. You can register your garden here!
Local butterfly expert Lenora Larson has created these informational handouts. You can download them here!
• Butterflies: Flying Flowers in your Garden!
• A Vital Connection: Native Plants and Butterflies
• Long Lips Farm Caterpillar Foodplants
• Butterfly Bartending: Nectar Flowers
• Long Lips Farm: Selected Butterfly Nectar Flowers
• Bee Friendly: Plants for Bees and Other Pollinators
CLICK HERE for photos and information about Monarchs
Visit our Butterfly Gardening page to find
host plant lists for additional butterfly and moth species!
‘Ice Ballet’ white swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'
Clusters of white blooms, from mid-summer to autumn are nectar-rich, attracting butterflies galore. As the … Continued
purple milkweed
Asclepias purpurascens
Native to the Eastern, Southern and Midwestern United States similar to the range of the … Continued
green comet milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora
Produces copious amounts of nectar especially adored by bumble bees. Flowers have a sweet odor … Continued
showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Showy milkweed produces dusty pink flower clusters in mid-summer atop large, glossy leaves that resemble … Continued
‘Silky Gold & Red’ tropical milkweed
Asclepias curassavica
‘Silky Deep Red’ blooms scarlet red and yellow two-tone. ‘Silky Gold’ sports yellow blooms. Both … Continued
spider milkweed, green antelopehorn
Asclepias viridis
Attracts monarch butterflies and a host of other insects while being tolerant of heat and … Continued
Sullivant’s milkweed
Asclepias sullivantii
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun, plants may self-seed in … Continued
swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp milkweed sports lightly fragrant flower clusters from early summer through fall. Plants grow 3-5′ … Continued
tall green milkweed
Asclepias hirtella
Plants grow up to 4′ and produce white flowers. This species prefers medium-wet to dry … Continued
butterfly weed, milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Perennial Plant Association 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year! Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) features showy … Continued
‘Hello Yellow’ butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
A long-lived, low-maintenance perennial, this yellow flowering selection of our native A. tuberosa was discovered … Continued