Mighty Milkweed

What to know about this butterfly garden staple

BY JILL STAAKE

1 Milkweed is the one and only host plant for monarchs, which prefer local, native varieties. 2 Though monarchs are the most well known, two other orange-and-black butterflies in the U.S. use milkweed as a host plant: queens and soldiers. 24 Prostrate milkweed (A. prostrata) is endangered, with only 24 populations remaining in South Texas and northern Mexico. 140 More than 140 species of milkweed (Asclepias spp.) are found in nature. 48 The lower 48 states (and nine Canadian provinces) all have native milkweed species to choose from. 5 Milkweed flowers typically have five downward-facing petals, and an upward-facing corona made up of five hoods. 40 The floss from two bags of ripe milkweed pods (40 lbs. total) could fill one life jacket for World War II sailors. BIRDS & BLOOMS (ISSN 1084-5305) (USPS 013-271), Vol. 29,…

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Birds & Blooms (Digital) - 1 Issue, August/September 2023

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