Beginning in February to March, the first generation of Monarch (Danaus Plexippus) butterflies begin their migration journey from overwintering sites in the Transvolcanic mountains of central Mexico to destinations across the United States and Canada. These remarkable butterflies are known by their bright orange black and white wings. All Monarchs are butterflies, but not all butterflies are Monarchs. The Monarch is just one of approximately 750 butterfly species in North America.
Some people may notice they do not see Monarch butterflies as often as they might like to see them in their home gardens or yards. Attracting butterflies, particularly Monarchs, is a deliberate process that includes taking steps proven to attract these beautiful creatures.
The best way to ensure you are attracting Monarch butterflies is to plant at least one variety of milkweed in your landscape. The only plants that Monarch larvae will eat is milkweed, so this is the plant Monarchs lay their eggs on. Once on many states’ list of noxious plants, milkweed is now recognized as critical to sustain Monarch populations.
The best milkweed to plant is a variety native to your area. For instance, in the upper Midwest, the most common varieties of milkweed are common milkweed (Asclepias syrica), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), also known as rose milkweed, and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). All of these plants produce beautiful nectar rich flowers which also attract the Monarch. Many gardeners shy away from common milkweed, as they will send rhizomes, causing the plant to spread. Swamp milkweed, as its name suggests, does well in wetter soils, while butterfly weed can survive in drought conditions.
Where you acquire your milkweed and plants matters, as it is critical to only purchase plants which have not been treated with herbicides or pesticides. Plants free of herbicides and pesticides may be purchased from reputable nurseries or local plant sales sponsored by various conservation groups, such as university botanical gardens, native plants groups, watershed organizations, or sales sponsored by local extension offices.
To move toward a garden with more native plants, you can replace non-native plants that don’t support local wildlife with milkweed and other natives. It is optimal to plant these in groups of three, which is done for aesthetics but also benefits pollinators by keeping their nectar sources close together when the perennial blooms. The proximity help pollinators in their collection of pollen by keeping the distance close and thus reducing the amount of energy expended in the collection.
For a plan to help build monarch populations through local gardening, a program of monarch waystations was developed and popularized by Dr. Chip Taylor, a University of Kansas professor of ecology and evolutionary biology promoted through the organization Monarch Watch in 2005.
Monarch Waystations are habitats that provide essential resources for monarch butterflies to breed and sustain their long migration. In addition to at least two varieties of milkweed, these waystations include plants to provide nectar for blooming in spring, summer and fall.
Your waystation doesn’t have to be big. It is recommended for it to be at least 100 square feet in size, which is essentially a 10 X 10 foot space. Ideally, the waystation should be in a sunny location, with at least six hours of full sunlight each day.
See more about Monarch waystations the second part of our series: Planning a Monarch Way Station