Why You Should Plant Milkweed in Your Garden

Milkweed plants have been the bane of many farmers and ranchers, as they can be toxic to livestock and other animals. But milkweed plants are the sole source of food for monarch caterpillars and the place monarch butterflies go to lay their eggs. So as more and more milkweed has disappeared from the environment over the last several decades, the loss of milkweed has endangered the monarch butterfly population.

But fortunately, it's super-easy for individuals to help the situation by planting a milkweed patch (or five) in their home gardens. Here's everything you need to know to create a monarch butterfly oasis in your own backyard.

Why You Should Plant Milkweed in Your Garden

The loss of monarch butterflies may have been the reason so many conservation groups have focused on growing milkweed, but monarch butterflies aren't the only ones who enjoy the plant. "Milkweed is a terrific nectar provider for many types of bee species and hummingbirds," says Mary Phillips, head of Garden for Wildlife and Certified Wildlife Habitat at National Wildlife Federation.

How to Choose Milkweed Types

While most people talk about milkweed in general, like other plants there are a number of different varieties of milkweed, each with different blooming times and that attract different pollinators.

For instance, orange butterfly milkweed and whorled milkweed are attractive to native bee species, while swamp, common, and showy milkweed attract larger bees like bumblebees, Phillips says.

You'll also want to ensure that you choose milkweed types that are native to the area, says Cate Singleton, design director at online landscape design company Tilly. "Native plants will help wildlife and are easier to maintain because they are acclimated to your climate." (Odds are if you get milkweed plants from a local garden society or conservation group, they will have done this research for you.)

Some of the most common types of milkweed include:

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly milkweed grows throughout the eastern part of the U.S. and into Texas and New Mexico. It produces bright orange blooms.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed grows east of the Rockies, and has pink, purple, or white blooms.

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy milkweed grows in the Western U.S., and has pink or purple flowers.

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Whorled milkweed does well in the Eastern part of the U.S. and some parts of the West, and has greenish-white flowers.

How to Plant Milkweed

Milkweed plants grow pretty tall (up to 4 feet, depending on the varietal), and bloom in shades of pink, white, purple, and orange in the spring and summer. Here's what you need to know to create a thriving milkweed patch.

Plant more than one type of milkweed

"More plants make for merry monarchs!" Phillips says. "Ideally it is good to plant two to three milkweed species native to where you live, as different species bloom at slightly different times, offering continued bloom through the growing season. Plant at least three plants of each species."

You can find out which milkweed works best in your area .

And don't forget that if you let the seed pods drop from a milkweed plant, you'll soon end up with several blooming in the area where you planted them.

Find the perfect spot

Plant milkweed on the outer edges of your garden, in a spot with full sun. "Ideally plant it as a surrounding border or in groups at the outer corners, not randomly placed within the center of the area," Phillips says. "Studies show that monarchs seem to find the milkweed easier if not surrounded by other plants on all sides."

A spot that's easily accessed from north or south increases the chances that monarch butterflies will find your little spot, Phillips says.

Milkweed needs well-draining soil to really thrive, Singleton says.  If your soil is high in clay content, you can amend it with peat to help reduce the risk of root rot.

Plant other butterfly-friendly plants nearby

To really increase the likelihood that your milkweed becomes a butterfly paradise, include other plants that they like nearby. "Plant other nectar-providing native plants that provide bloom across the seasons for adult monarchs to refuel on their migration," Phillips says. "Fall-blooming plants are especially important, like asters and goldenrods. These are keystone native plants that support hundreds of pollinators as well."

"Native grasses are a good companion plant—they can provide additional space for other pollinators to lay eggs," Singleton says. "Alliums are another good plant to incorporate into a pollinator garden as they can ward off pests such as aphids."