In the spring, monarchs begin a long journey north from Mexico to Canada. These butterflies rely on milkweed—the only plant on which monarchs lay their eggs and the only source of food for baby caterpillars—for survival along the way. But urban planning and agricultural expansion have paved and plowed over millions of acres of milkweed. You can help these amazing butterflies by planting the right species of milkweed at home.
1. Know your milkweed. Different species of milkweed thrive in different parts of the country. Plant these milkweed species to support monarchs:
Milkweed regions
1. Know your milkweed.
Different species of milkweed thrive in different parts of the country. Select a region from the map to learn what species of milkweed you can plant to help save monarchs.
2. Find your milkweed.
.
Find a nursery or other plant retailer in your area with the right kinds of milkweed, or buy milkweed directly from
Monarch Watch. To help as many monarchs as possible, plant a variety of milkweed as well as other plants that provide adult monarchs with nectar. For example,
choose plants that bloom at different times of the year to help monarchs as they fly north in the spring and then later in the fall as they return south.
3. Plant your milkweed.
The plants should come with instructions. If not,
check out these tips to make the most of your monarch waystation. For example, make sure your milkweed is planted in as much sunlight as possible and shield it from wind.
4. Show us your milkweed.
We want to know what you planted.
Tell us how much milkweed you’re growing and check out where other Squad members are planting. Send us pictures by email
monarchsquad@wwfus.org or via Twitter and Instagram, @world_wildlife, with the hashtag #WWFSquad. We’ll check back in with you in a couple of weeks and ask you to report back if you’ve planted milkweed. The more you plant, the more excited others will be to follow in your footsteps.
Please note that if your picture includes children under the age of 18, by emailing WWF or using the hashtag, you grant WWF permission to use that image and represent that you have the authority to grant that permission on behalf of all pictured children.
Northeast Region Milkweed Species
| Common and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Common Milkweed
(Asclepias syriaca)
|
Well-drained soil |
Swamp Milkweed
(Asclepias incarnate)
|
Damp, marshy areas |
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
|
Well-drained soil |
Whorld Milkweed
(Asclepias verticillata)
|
Prairies and open areas |
Poke Milkweed
Asclepias exaltata
|
Woodland areas |
k
South-Central Region Milkweed Species
| Common and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Green Antelopehorn Milkweed
(Asclepias viridis)
|
Dry and prairie areas |
Antelopehorns Milkweed
(Asclepias asperula)
|
Desert and sandy areas |
Zizotes Milkweed
(Asclepias oenotheroides)
|
Sandy/rocky prairies and fields |
k
Southeast Region Milkweed Species
| Common Name and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Butterfly Weed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
|
Well-drained soils |
Whorled Milkweed
(Asclepias verticillata)
|
Prairies and open areas |
White Milkweed
(Asclepias variegate)
|
Thickets and woodlands |
Aquatic Milkweed
(Asclepias perennis)
|
Hydrated soils |
Sandhill/Pinewoods Milkweed
(Asclepias humistrata)
|
Dry sandy areas and soils, Florida |
k
Western Region Milkweed Species
| Common Name and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Mexican Whorled Milkweed
(Asclepias fascicularis)
|
Dry climates and plains, except CO, UT, NM, and AZ |
Showy Milkweed
(Asclepias speciose)
|
Savannahs and prairies |
k
Arizona Milkweed Species
| Common Name and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Butterfly Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
|
Well-drained soils |
Antelopehorns Milkweed
(Asclepias asperula)
|
Desert and sandy areas |
Rush Milkweed
(Asclepias subulata)
|
Desert areas |
Arizona Milkweed
(Asclepias angustifolia)
|
Riparian areas and canyons |
k
California Milkweed Species
| Common Name and Scientific Names |
Ground Features |
Mexican Whorled Milkweed
(Asclepias fascicularis)
|
Dry climate and plains |
Showy Milkweed
(Asclepias speciosa)
|
Savannahs and prairies |
Desert Milkweed
(Asclepias erosa)
|
Desert regions |
California Milkweed
(Asclepias californica)
|
Grassy areas |
Heartleaf Milkweed
(Asclepias cordifolia)
|
Rocky slopes |
Woolly Milkweed
(Asclepias vestita)
|
Dry deserts and plains |
Woolly Pod Milkweed
(Asclepias eriocarpa)
|
Clay soils and dry areas |
k
Source: Monarch Joint Venture
The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic programs that are working together to support and coordinate efforts to protect the monarch migration across the lower 48 United States.
*Alaska and Hawai'i are not included on this map because monarchs do not migrate to these states.
