Certain types of milkweed feed butterflies
Q: I see milkweed blooming in the area. I never got any seeds this year — are there other types we can grow to help the monarchs?
• Louise from Campbell
A: Yes, there are several. Monarch butterflies are quite beautiful and provide an opportunity for us to connect plant species to insects — the need for diversity within the landscape that exists in nature. Most butterflies can get nectar from many different plants, but most have very specific requirements for their larvae.
Most of us are familiar with common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). It is a perennial plant, growing up to 6 feet tall. It is quite straight and tall, with opposite, oval leaves.
If you break off a leaf or stem, you’ll notice the milky sap from which the plant most likely got its name. The flowers are purplish and bloom in ball-like clusters near the top of the plant. As they fade, you’ll notice the large (3 to 5 inches), long, pointed pods. You most likely don’t even think of them until you see the 450 or so white fuzz flying out of the pods, dispersing seeds throughout the area.
Besides common milkweed, monarchs will make use of other types of milkweed that grow well in Ohio. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is the short (18 to 30 inches tall) plant with clusters (umbels) of very bright orange flowers you see along highways. It is a well-behaved plant, but does produce seed pods with the silky, fluffy attachments to the seeds that helps the seeds spread.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a 3 to 4 feet tall plant with more narrow leaves and darker pink to purple flowers on the top of stems.
Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) has an attractive, yet very slim (narrow) leaf (less than a half inch). The flowers are white to lime green and form umbels on the tops of stems.
There are other milkweeds that will grow in Ohio. Some are more difficult to find than others. If you want to start seeds for next year, now is a good time to secure seeds of ones you want to try.
In addition to the milkweeds, there are other plants you can have in your garden to attract and support monarchs. Our experts at Ohio State say that butterfly weed, joe-pye weed, goldenrod, asters and blazing star are all plants that support the adult monarchs with nectar. But milkweeds are the only plants that support the monarch larvae.
For more on how to find, collect and grow milkweed, visit http://go.osu.edu/growmilkweed.
For other milkweed options, visit http://go.osu.edu/moremilkweeds.
Discover types of plants to attract specific butterflies in Ohio at http://go.osu.edu/butterflygardens.
Certain types of milkweed feed butterflies
Q: I see milkweed blooming in the area. I never got any seeds this year — are there other types we can grow to help the monarchs?
• Louise from Campbell
A: Yes, there are several. Monarch butterflies are quite beautiful and provide an opportunity for us to connect plant species to insects — the need for diversity within the landscape that exists in nature. Most butterflies can get nectar from many different plants, but most have very specific requirements for their larvae.
Most of us are familiar with common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). It is a perennial plant, growing up to 6 feet tall. It is quite straight and tall, with opposite, oval leaves.
If you break off a leaf or stem, you’ll notice the milky sap from which the plant most likely got its name. The flowers are purlish-pink, and bloom in ball-like clusters near the top of the plant. As they fade, you’ll notice the large (3 to 5 inches), long, pointed pods. You most likely don’t even think of them until you see the 450 or so white fuzz flying out of the pods, dispersing seeds throughout the area.
Besides common milkweed, monarchs will make use of other types of milkweed that grow well in Ohio. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is the short (18 to 30 inches tall) plant with clusters (umbels) of very bright orange flowers you see along highways. It is a well-behaved plant, but does produce seed pods with the silky, fluffy attachments to the seeds that helps the seeds spread.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a 3 to 4 feet tall plant with more narrow leaves and darker pink to purple flowers on the top of stems.
Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) has an attractive, yet very slim (narrow) leaf (less than a half inch). The flowers are white to lime green and form umbels on the tops of stems.
There are other milkweeds which will grow in Ohio. Some are more difficult to find than others. If you want to start seeds for next year, now is a good time to secure seeds of ones you want to try.
In addition to the milkweeds, there are other plants you can have in your garden to attract and support monarchs. Our experts at Ohio State say that butterfly weed, joe-pye weed, goldenrod, asters and blazing star are all plants which support the adult monarchs with nectar. But milkweeds are the only plants that support the monarch larvae.
For more on how to find, collect and grow milkweed, visit http://go.osu.edu/growmilkweed.
For other milkweed options, visit http://go.osu.edu/moremilkweeds.
Discover types of plants to attract specific butterflies in Ohio at http://go.osu.edu/butterflygardens.
Barrett is the Ohio State University Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call 330-533-5538 to submit your questions to the plant clinic. Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays through October.