Milkweed – the food for the Monarch butterflies

Milkweed is a great nectar plant for butterflies, but it is also the host plant for Monarch butterflies.  A host plant is the plant that a butterfly must lays its eggs on for the caterpillars to eat and grow.   Some butterflies have a variety of host plants, but the Monarch butterfly can only use milkweed to lay its eggs on.  There are many different types of milkweed.  The USDA lists the different types and has more information about each of them.

Plant milkweed to help the Monarch population.  The Monarch population for 2013 has plunged to its lowest levels in decades, according to the New York Times.      According to Chip Taylor, founder of Monarch Watch, the population has dropped 59% for 2013.  They are attributing this to the drop of breeding habitat due to the use of herbicides and genetically engineered crops.  Monarchs migrate north in the springtime and need this host plant to lay their eggs on.  By planting their host plant, you will be providing these butterflies a place to lay their eggs and helping to increase the population.