Monarch & Milkweeds
Plants are available late May through October. Orders are filled in the order they are received. Orders placed in May may not be ready until late June. Out of stock? We are growing more. Please select the "Notify me when in stock" button on the product page to receive an email notifications.
Orders are NOT shipped. A pickup time will be arranged through email when plants are ready for pick up.
4" Pot
A deep 4x5" square pot is our standard. Well-developed roots help the plant establish quickly. All plants are in a 4" pot unless otherwise stated.
Plug Flat
A plastic tray with 38 plants. Single-species or pre-designed kits. Economically plant larger areas. 5" deep and spaced for optimal crown growth.
Gallon Pots
Large round pots filled with shrubs or mature plants for garden showpieces.
Monarch & Milkweeds
Few butterflies are more recognizable than the dramatic orange and black Monarch. This iconic butterfly is a favorite in backyards, but migrates from as far as Canada to a few overwintering sites in California and Mexico and back again. However, the butterfly has two weaknesses.
First, the caterpillars of the Monarch can only eat one type of plant: milkweeds. If there are no milkweeds at its summer homes, there can be no Monarchs. The other weakness is that its long migratory path requires food along the whole route, otherwise adults will not survive migration.
Habitat loss all along the migration route is contributing to a decline of Monarchs. By planting milkweed host plants and favorite nectar plants, we can support Monarchs along their migration routes and give them support as they face larger threats such as climate change and pesticide exposure.
By the way, mosquito sprays and other backyard pesticides are harmful to Monarchs, Monarch caterpillars, and other pollinators (according to many sources, but here is an article from Michigan State University). If you want to keep butterflies, stop the spray and plant native nectar plants and milkweeds. Our best plants for Monarchs are listed below.
