Photo source: wikimedia commons
A few days ago I wrote an article, The Monarch Butterfly - In Danger of Disappearing,
about how the population of the beautiful monarch butterfly is declining. One
of the main reasons for this decline is the loss of the milkweed plant.
The milkweed plant is the only plant on which the monarch
butterfly will deposit her eggs. The reason for this is that the milkweed plant
is somewhat toxic. Once the monarch caterpillars emerge, they eat the leaves of
this plant which in turn makes them toxic as well. The bright colors of the monarch
are a warning to the birds that “you don’t really want to eat me!” It may not
kill the bird, but it will make them think twice about ever eating another one.
With the planting of so many genetically modified crops, the
farmers are using more and stronger herbicides which is not only killing the
unwanted “weeds” in their crops, but it also killing everything around the
crops including the milkweed plants.
Milkweed gets its name from the milky like sap that come
from cutting the plant. (Be sure not to get it in your eyes!) There are many
varieties of the milkweed plant and it goes by many different common names, such
as the “pink butterfly plant”, be sure you chose a plant from the family of
Asclepias to get a true milkweed. Varieties of this plant grow wild on most of
the US in zones 3-9. The common milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca), is native to the
eastern and central US. It will grow to approximately 48” high and blooms late
June through July.
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Photo source: wikimedia commons - Jason Hollinger
Common milkweed is a perennial that is drought, deer and
rabbit resistant. It grows well in poor soil as long as it has good drainage
and plenty of sunlight. It is recommended that you plant seeds in the fall, however,
the plants may not flower the first year. If you want flowering milkweed the
first year, you might want to purchase a few already started pots from your
local nursery.
Once your milkweed plants bloom, you can remove the seed
pods and keep the seeds for more plants the next year. The plant will spread on
its own as it grows from rhizomes underground. The seed pods will also open and
release seeds into the wind similar to a dandelion, but this may cause your
plants to grow in areas where you don’t want them.
The milkweed plant will not only bring the monarch butterfly
to your flower garden but it is a source of nectar for hummingbirds and many
other species of butterflies as well. Let’s all plant some milkweed this year
and help the population of the monarch butterfly flourish once again!
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