This story was submitted by Larinda Frushour. It documents her journey of planting native milkweed gardens to support monarch butterflies and caterpillars.
Beyond its beauty, the monarch butterfly is a unique wonder of nature, capable of a migration unlike any other insect on the planet. With earth’s magnetic field and the sun as its compass, this butterfly voyages an astonishing 3,000 miles, over multiple generations, in order to complete its annual journey (US Forest Service). It’s not surprising monarchs have become a symbol of resilience for cultures across the world.
Currently, this iconic butterfly is facing an existential threat: extinction. As of December 2024, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a need to protect monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act. With populations plummeting by as much as 95% since the 1980s, the monarch's decline is concerning to many. But it’s not all hopeless. The USFWS emphasizes the public ability to help reverse the trend through habitat restoration.
Monarchs faced with habitat loss- natural & developed land
When I first learned about the monarch population decline in the spring of 2023, I wanted to take action. The encouraging thing about monarch conservation is that you can make a noticeable impact in your own backyard. Anyone living along the monarch's migratory path can plant native milkweed- Monarchs might just show up the next day!
Growing Milkweed for Monarchs
In the United States, planting milkweed “rest stops” is an effective way to support monarchs. Milkweed does more than just provide nectar for butterflies; It is the monarch host plant, meaning it’s the only plant a monarch butterfly will lay eggs on. After hatching, monarch caterpillars feed solely on the bitter leaves of the milkweed plant, making them unappetizing to predators. The adult monarch butterfly will eventually need a wider variety of native nectars to fuel its migration, but milkweed is always the starting point. Without milkweed, monarchs can’t survive.
When I first started planning my monarch garden, I wanted to know which kind of milkweed would create the healthiest habitat. Non-native tropical milkweed is known to carry harmful parasites for monarchs. Instead, I opted for Illinois native “common milkweed” (Asclepias syriaca) which blooms in full, spherical clusters of pink and lavender flowers. There are a variety of milkweed species native to the United States, their flowers blooming in green, white, orange, yellow, purple, and pink.
Milkweed typically likes to grow in full sunlight, but it’s hardy and can tolerate some less-than-ideal light conditions. I designated two flower boxes in a sunny, open area of the yard for common milkweed.
Methods of Planting Milkweed
There are multiple methods of planting milkweed. One easy and cost effective method is to directly plant milkweed from seed in the fall. In fact, you may even be able to get seeds for free from local community groups. Sowing seeds in the fall allows the ground to freeze and thaw, so that the seeds can germinate in spring. This freezing period, known as “cold stratification ” aids in the natural process of regrowth.
I had a bunch of milkweed seeds from a non-profit organization dedicated to saving monarchs. However, it was already spring when I wanted to start the garden. Because of this, I had to sort of “fake the seeds into thinking it was winter”. This method entailed laying seeds out on a damp paper towel, storing them in a plastic bag, and letting them sit in the refrigerator for 30 days. I then planted my seeds in containers, before transferring the seedlings to flower boxes. One thing to note is that not all milkweed seeds will germinate, which is why I planted mine in clusters of 3. It’s also important to plant seeds under a shallow layer of soil, roughly the depth of the seed itself, to ensure germination.
Both methods of planting seeds require some planning in advance. An even easier way to reliably start a milkweed garden is to do so from already established plants. The following season, I went on to plant more varieties of milkweed, including orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) from established plants. The benefit of this is that the plants will be more resilient coming back the next growing season, and they should flower quicker.
April to June- my milkweed from seed to a monarch habitat
As far as garden maintenance goes, I didn’t have to do too much extra watering, since native plants thrive under their natural conditions. Native milkweed also doesn’t require the use of pesticides, so I avoided chemicals, which could be toxic to the wildlife I’m trying to support.
The Results: Welcoming Monarchs to My Garden
Like most milkweed varieties, common milkweed is perennial, and will grow back bigger every year. Milkweed from seed won’t flower in the first growing season. But even though it may not look like much of anything, the young leaves create a vibrant habitat for monarch eggs and caterpillars.
It was June, only a few days after planting my homegrown seedlings, when I went to check up the garden. I was astonished to find a monarch egg, about the size of a pen tip, already laid on the underside of a milkweed leaf! This little egg was the first of many, and a sign of hope for our monarchs.
A monarch egg and a very tiny caterpillar- the first stages of the butterfly life cycle.
On many visits to the garden, I was mesmerized by the intricate world that is a milkweed plant. Each time I came back, I noticed something new. One morning, I counted 11 caterpillars munching on the leaves of just a few small plants.
Next summer, I’m excited for the milkweed to grow back, and for the monarchs to return, before continuing their long voyage.
Monarch caterpillars munch on the leaves of orange butterfly weed
I have to say, I was skeptical when I first started growing milkweed for monarchs. It seemed crazy that an insect from however many miles away could pinpoint just one small garden. Yet, the results were truly spectacular. It inspired me to learn more about monarchs and the native plant movement.
Often, environmental issues can seem vast and out of our control. But in the case of the monarch butterfly, it’s easy to see the wider reaching impact of individual actions. I found the experience of gardening for monarchs not only fascinating, but incredibly gratifying.
Every milkweed planted is a lifeline for monarchs, and a step towards preserving this wonderful species for generations to come.
About the Author
Larinda first connected with Garden for Wildlife as a highschooler pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award project on pollinators. Today, as a student at the University of Illinois, she continues to follow her passion for conservation outreach, majoring in environmental science. Each year, she cultivates a vegetable garden, and invites bees and butterflies to her yard with a colorful array of pollinator friendly plants! Larinda hopes to share the joy of nature with others, rewriting "gloom and doom" climate news from an uplifting, actionable perspective.