Monarch butterfly populations have been declining for years. By adding plants in your garden that feed the monarch caterpillars and butterflies, you can help boost the population. You will also enjoy watching the life cycle of this bright orange butterfly.
Plants that Feed Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars
Monarch caterpillars only feed on milkweed plants, in the Asclepias genus. Milkweed flowers not only provide food for the monarch butterflies, but they also provide them a place to lay their eggs.
Butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Blooms in summer
Perennial
Swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Blooms in mid-summer to early fall
Perennial
Common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Blooms in mid to late-summer
Perennial
Plants that Feed Monarch Butterflies
Adding plants that produce nectar from spring to fall is important for helping the monarch butterfly. The late-season flowers provide them with food as they migrate back to Mexico. So, select a variety of seasonal flowers for your garden.
Smooth blue aster
Sympyotrichum laeve
Blooms in fall
Perennial
New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Blooms in fall
Perennial
Mexican sunflower
Tithonia rotundifolia
Blooms in mid-summer to fall
Annual
Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Blooms in mid-summer to fall
Perennial
Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium spp.
Blooms in mid-summer to fall
Perennial
Goldenrod
Solidago spp.
Blooms in summer to late fall (depending on species)
Perennial
Ironweed
Vernonia spp.
Blooms in mid-summer to early or late fall
Perennial
Phlox
Phlox spp.
Blooms in late spring to early fall (depending on species)
Perennial
Bee balm
Monarda spp.
Blooms in summer
Perennial
For more information on plants that feed butterflies and their caterpillars, read 30 plants to feed and host butterflies in your garden.
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