Providing Flowers in the Garden for Hummingbirds, wild birds and butterflies. Here we have native milkweed, but now Tropical Milkweed as growing in, and the Monarch Butterflies prefer that plant over native milkweed, see why.
Here is a Great Video worth watching on the Monarch Butterfly: https://youtu.be/xY5tyRUMLeo
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46 Comments
I would plant both, but more tropical milkweed than native.
Why not grow both.
If the Monarch butterflies needs our help I say help in the way that benefits them.😃
I would grow both to give them a choice.
I have raised both tropical and narrow leaf milkweed and they definitely prefer the tropical. Yes the one parasite is a major concern so absolutely it is imperative to cut the plant down to near the base every fall. It also encourages the monarch to migrate to the central coast where a large population of monarchs collect and overwinter in eucalyptus groves. If butterflies are changing their habits it is man's fault-global warning and providing food sources is interfering with nature. We all want to do the right thing to save our beautiful butterflies. Consider thinking about your own personall choices that may add to global warming. It will help all our species including the monarch. And cut down the tropical milkweed in the fall even if it's still beautiful and flowering. It will help keep the monarch strong.
I'm fairly certain butterflies, birds, wild animals etc, don't intentionally pig out on food that isn't good for them unlike some of us 😇! Just plant the Tropical variety along with other plants that all critters can use. When you chop it down as instructed, will you compost it?
Patterns do change but they should change and adapt on their own. Not to appease the nursery industry for profits. And not for humans because they enjoy seeing monarchs. There are plenty of native milkweeds and many different varieties that can be propagated and planted. Do some research and we can still give monarchs what they want and need without being lazy and planting what nurseries want to sell us just because they have prettier flowers.
I'm in Georgia. I have successful with monarchs using flat leaf parsley and dill herb.
Keep growing the tropical milkweed and have the beautiful monarchs in your yard
The milkweed in Colorado have huge wonderful smelling blossoms.. ?
I've heard the same info, and bought the native. Monarchs did not come to it. They flock to the tropical & we have many monarchs. I say keep the tropical; nature will select out of God given instinct, and since that is their choice, I'm not going to argue. My experience is in Florida. BTW the native died; I'm not buying more. Also, the monarchs love the red torchere Mexican sunflowers for nectar, and they reseed easily. Thanks for all the encouraging videos!
Step in
If they like the tropical then plant the tropical. The butterflies know what they are doing.
Plant both!!! Looks like the butterflies that end up in Mexico want tropical? Those that reach Illinois want native. The generations may be different.
Plant a bunch of tropical.
In a separate area only plant native.
Robbie so very interesting about butterflies 🦋🦋
i say grow both–cover all the bases!!they will feed on what they want!!if the tropical works better plant more!! it can not hurt!!–love you robbie!!
I read one who said in St. Louis he grows both types of milkweed and the butterflies start on the regular and then move to the tropical He said what they are looking for is the most succulent leaves.
I checked with my botanical garden here in Arizona and we have a native milkweed asclepias augustifolia. I am going to try and get some and add it to my tropical milkweed asclepias curassavica. Give them a choice.
I’ve had tropical milkweed growing for 5 years in L.A. The monarch’s love it and they love our, at least 50 years old, passion fruit leaves. I have the milkweed in ground and it does spread.
I would plant more tropical milk weed.
To me if you were getting them before i would grow what they came to. Abort the native or most of them and plant more tropical. Thanks for all the info 😊
I would do both as a watch a wait test.
It's fine as long as you cut it down in the winter. BTW if you want to know more about raising butterflies. There's a great channel called MrLundScience- we used it to raise butterflies last year
Keep the tropical milk weed.
I live in North Central Texas on a migratory flyway. Last year we had a late migratory wave of Monarchs that lingered on blooming tropical milkweed. A few days after folks commented on how many Monarchs they were seeing, we had a sub-freezing cold snap. My concern, at least for my area, is that tropical milkweed plus the new normal warm late fall will delay migration out of the freeze zone.
California Monarchs do not migrate to Mexico. Their historical migration relates to leaving inland California and overwintering on the coast of California. California nurseries brought Mexican Tropical Milkweed to California as a garden ornamental, not as Monarch food. 50 years ago your nurseryman would sell you an insecticide to "take care" of that caterpillar infestation on your tropical milkweed. As native milkweed was removed (or starved) in favor of farming
over these years, the Monarchs were given no choice but to seek out Tropical Milkweed in California suburbia.
This lead to a sub population of California Monarchs that preferred tropical milkweed, breeds year round and doesn't migrate in the winter.
Tropical milkweed has been banned for sale in three counties in California, with more to follow. It has been shown to spread, by seed, into untended areas where it perpetuates the parasite that weakens the whole population.
These facts need to be introduced into your next video.
Global warming and water being cut off to the farmers.
I'm so glad you talked about this. I have had native milkweed that has been thriving for a couple of years and have not seen a single monarch. I don't know if the tropical will grow here in Oregon but now I am going to give it a try. I would plant more of it if I were you. People are stupid if they think we can force the butterflies to go where we think they should go by purposely not planting what they like. Butterflies don't give a sh*t about being PC and laying their eggs on native plants.
Firstly, just to clarify one point, it can take about four generations for monarchs to travel north from Mexico to Canada, but the return trip south from Canada to Mexico is actually made by individual monarchs in a single generation.
Secondly, I have to disagree with you regarding the use of tropical milkweed instead of the native plants. The best science based evidence clearly indicates that tropical milkweed does in fact disrupt the normal migratory and breeding patterns of monarch butterflies.
As with most things having to do with nature, it may seem straightforward, but is actually fairly complicated. Well respected, science based organizations such as the Xerces society have devoted years to the study of and conservation of monarchs and other pollinators and they have come to the conclusion that tropical milkweed does in fact disrupt the normal pattern of migration and breeding of monarchs.
While having monarch butterflies staying in one’s yard all year long may seem like a nice idea, it can actually be a part of the problem if they are not following their normal migratory and breeding patterns.
Please read some of the information from actual science based organizations who spend time and money studying these very complex issues. You can do a search for the Xerces society and tropical milkweed, or monarch joint venture, among others. People who are truly concerned about conservation of monarchs and our planet in general have the responsibility to be as fact based as possible.
My gosh thank you! I now have tropical milkweed this year, late August albeit… (along w/ native for my area; SC zone 8) and everything I read was villifying the idea. The hummingbirds loved it but… it's new. Next warm season, I am convinced, the monarchs will be here. My tropical MW did so well and I can hardly believe it.
* I wish people would look up the science on Milkweeds and what Monarchs prefer & how they like to choose which Milkweed. Science that I've read shows that more milkweeds do best; and tropical (amid multiples) do best.
Thank you for the serious interest in the butterfly situation
When buying milkweed make sure it is not treated for pests. Or clean each leaf really good !
I'm in the PHX metro area and live in a condo with a tiny porch. I have been slowly adding plants and humming bird feeders. Your channel has been very helpful and inspirational to me. Thank you.
Try Milkweed Vine. A huge favorite of pollinators and I've seen Monarchs feed on them.
I have both tropical and native milkweed in my Maryland garden. The Monarch’s prefer the tropical to lay their eggs on. We mostly get the last generation that shows up in September and lays eggs. Then they hatch out. They leave soon after. I noticed the natives aren’t in bloom in September, but the tropical will continue to bloom until our first frost. They continue to supply the Monarch’s with nectar when they are here and continue to supply other pollinators as well. I will continue to grow both.
I would grow the tropical milkweed & be happy they are there🥰🥰
hello! glad to have found you..we live in So. Cal as well and beginning of summer noticed this pretty little gal ( monarch butterfly) hanging around and searching for food and a place to lay eggs. that was the start of my love for these critters and i filled my area with milkweed. both narrowleaf and showy…i had successes and failures. learned a ton of info but no one suggested planting tropical, in fact i don't remember seeing tropical milkweed at the nursery. I did plant HairyBall MW seed but had no success… So going forward, i will indeed be on the hunt for TM. Interesting that you should mention change in migratory patterns. I believe this to be true. My hummers seem to be hanging out all year and to my surprise i still have monarchs laying eggs.
Thank you for including our gardening class video on Tropical Milkweed vs Native Milkweed in the video description as a resource! We agree with you on this as far as tropical milkweed and appreciate you working alongside us in helping to assist the monarch populations by providing good information on the topic to your audience! If anyone would like to check out our full tropical vs native class you can find it in this YouTube video's description! <3
I've grown three different varieties of native milkweed in California and only the "narrow leaf" milkweed had monarch caterpillars. They don't seem to care for any of the broadleaf type or pine needle milkweed.
I planted native milkweed and swamp milkweed (which I beleive is tropical milkweed). Well the native keeps dying and the swamp milkweed comes back every year. Its milkweed its Monarchs only food source, so if they like the tropical milkweed, keep it. I beleive in planting as many natives as possible but I will tell you the non native flowering shrubs/plants (rose of sharon, budlia, swamp milkweed) in my garden get the most interest from all polinators.
I would plant a whole patch of tropical milkweed by the ponds and enjoy the butterflies!!!
I think you should keep the tropical one.
I had about 15 plants grown from seed. The Monarch’s layed so many eggs. I ended up with 43 caterpillars and they ate all my milkweed. I had to take them to a friends house. Sooo sad.
I think mother nature does know best. At this stage with humanity too many things/resources have been altered. We do not know if native milkweed has been genetically altered whether intentionally or not. We do know that bagged soil has been contaminated with Grazon . Who would have thought or known that would happen! Things are changing, and I think it's best to be flexible, do our own research. If we are able to experiment, with the mindful intent to support our ecosystem, I think that is the best scenario. Then we can come to our own conclusions based on personal experience, and share this valuable information to help others succeed. Thank you for sharing this journey! It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
Cut tropical milkweed back a few times each season to reduce the risk of OE Disease. I'm in Florida so I plant both. I have several tropical plants that I cut to the ground every so often. I do a few at a time in intervals.
I have a plant called Gregs Mist that the Monarchs and other butterflies are attracted to!!!! I live in West Texas in Menard Texas!!! The Monarchs have just returned last month because Gregs Mist has finally bloomed the spring and summer was much too hot over 100 everyday!!! So what kind of Milkweed should I plant and when????