These 5 Flowers Can Save Monarch Butterflies
Grow these 5 plants in your garden and help save monarch butterflies.
The monarch population is beginning to show its first signs of recovery after plummeting over 90% in the past decade because of pesticides, extreme weather, disease, and habitat loss.
Spring is a very important time for monarch butterflies. The overwintering populations are heading north to lay the first monarch eggs of the season. These butterflies need new milkweed to feed monarch caterpillars, and nectar flowers to help tired females lay eggs.
Many butterfly gardeners prefer summer plants that are in their prime during the height of monarch season. Yet, it is important to ensure this “height” by providing the return ‘migration generation’ the nourishment it needs for a productive season.
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These 5 spring butterfly plants will help returning monarchs to get off to a great start:
Spider Milkweed is a great choice for early generations of monarchs. The North American Monarch Conservation Plan recommends planting native milkweed species to restore habitat within the monarch butterfly’s breeding range.
This perennial is most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9. This variety is not very tall and only grows 1 to 2.5 feet. It blooms in May through July and produces purple and green blossoms that attract many different pollinators.
This plant is drought tolerant and should be planted in full sun.
Chives are a low maintenance plant with fragrant purple flowers that can also be used in the kitchen. Luckily, monarch butterflies also love the blossoms of chives.
Chives are a perennial and are recommended in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9. They grow to about 1 to 2 feet tall, and therefore are a great container garden option. Not only do chives attract monarchs, but they are also known to repel aphids. They bloom in April through June and should be planted in full sun.
Siberian Wallflowers are a beautiful orange and have a wonderful aroma that attracts monarchs, bees, and hummingbirds.
These plants are biennial and can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. They grow up to 1.5 to 2 feet and can be grown in a container. They bloom in March through May and require full sun to partial shade.
May Night Salvia is a striking blue and purple that will look great in any garden. This hybrid is a great attractor of monarchs.
May night salvia is a perennial that is most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. This plant blooms in March through May and can rebloom with deadheading. Plant in full sun and watch monarchs get their nourishment from your garden.
Common Milkweed is one of the earliest sprouting milkweed varieties. It is a preferred spring milkweed because of it has large thick leaves that are able to sustain monarch caterpillars. Many bees and butterflies enjoy the nectar of this milkweed.
This perennial is most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. This drought resistant plant has fragrant pink and white flowers and should be planted in full sun.
Ariana Marisol is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She is currently finishing her last year at The Evergreen State College getting her undergraduate degree in Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
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