Question: Why is milkweed important to the monarch butterflies? 9. Please ask your regional seed vendor for planting recommendations. If you like Monarchs (and who doesn’t), then you need to grow milkweeds. Suggestions for a tidewater Virginia Butterfly Garden, Butterflies most likely to be seen in tidewater Virginia, How to Raise Variegated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia). Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a perennial plant that can be found in a wide range of habitats including roadsides, fields, and gardens. At present, nearly 40 milkweed species are available as seed to varying degrees, although availability varies widely by region. 6. If not, search for specific milkweed pages on this site or consult with Mother Google. At least that seems like a good idea. Other milkweed species can also be propagated in this manner. I will follow your directions outlined above. It is native to North America and reproduces primarily from seed. You can check the resources age for more natives/perennials or annuals:

Milkweed for North American Butterfly Gardens

Follow the steps on this post for fall planting. I have been told it is hard to grow from seed and want to try to do it and also share seed with friends. Place seeds into a container of moist soil, cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least three weeks. Host Plants: Cherry, tulip tree, lilac, willow, ash, sweet-bay. Thanks so much, Nina.

  • how deep tony? However, if you’re not doing anything with the property, it can’t hurt to try. Cover the seeds with the already-moist soil. I live in MA and have a lot of milkweed seed I was planning on scattering this fall. Free and open to the public. Measuring between holes: Make the letter L with your thumb and forefinger. Pink blossoms provide nectar from July through August. Seeds have been de-fluffed. ), of course, is the host plant for monarch butterflies. Also, once they’ve split open, if I plan to plant them in Nov., in the meantime (between now and then) should I bring the seeds indoors or leave them inside the tied together pods outside? Milkweed plants are critical to the monarch butterflies survival, whose population in North America has plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years. Here’s more info:

    Winter Sowing Milkweed Seeds

  • Hi Tony,

    Do I still have to cold stratify my butterfly milkweed seeds if I plant them in fall or winter?

  • Hi Tony!

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