Swamp milkweed tends to grow bushier and can grow quite tall, yet has slender long leaves with no hairy trichomes. Common milkweed is among the tallest of the three species and has wide, fuzzy, large leaves. For example, common milkweed is often considered to be weedy since it can spread through rhizomes and grow in a wide variety of conditions. All of which monarch caterpillars can feed and thrive on.Įach species of milkweed exhibits unique plant traits that might influence whether a conservationist or gardener might plant it. In the Northeastern United States, the three native species of milkweeds recommended for planting by the Xerces Society of Insect Conservation are common milkweed ( A. In much of the United States, there are overlapping ranges of a few different species of milkweed, making regional differences in native species important to consider. Across the range where monarchs live, there may exist different species of milkweeds for a mother monarch to lay her eggs on, which will subsequently hatch out to these hungry caterpillars. As caterpillars, the monarch can only eat milkweed plants, while the adults will nectar on milkweeds and a variety of other flowering plants. Planting milkweed species native to the region in which you reside has been a major goal of conservation aimed at supporting both pollinators and other organisms that specialize in using this unique group of plants.Ī well-known milkweed specialist is the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexxipus. There are over 100 different species of milkweeds that are considered native to North America, and even more found worldwide. Not only is milkweed their favorite food but also the only food they will ever eat. Some of these visitors are exclusive milkweed lovers – what we call specialists. Even milkweed roots are food for insects feeding below the ground.
The milkweeds ( Asclepias sp.) are an incredible resource for insects and other arthropods – their flowers are buzzing with pollinators lapping up nectar, their leaves covered with hungry herbivores, followed by roaming predators looking for nourishment.
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