Monarchs, Butterfly Weeds, and Everything In Between

Welcome back to the third summer edition of Inside the Garden With Green Bridge Growers. So far we have focused on our pollinators and pollination. This blog is no different! We want to express the importance of growing a butterfly flower or better yet a butterfly weed. To be honest, Monarchs love this native bloomer. A butterfly weed or Asclepias tuberosa is a good-looking, sweet-scented plant that attracts beneficial insects of all sorts. Let’s dive a little deeper, Asclepias is a relative to the common milkweed, but does not have the sticky sap associated with the taller plant. The butterfly weed is native to many parts of North America. Here’s a cool fact, if placed in full sun, its bold orange-red flowers can bloom continuously until the first frost! In addition, hummingbirds usually love these flowers, but deer and other pests typically do not eat it. They can usually grow in any type of soil, however this weed prefers poor to rich soil. We want to help you transform your garden and encourage you to plant butterfly weed!  

Here are a couple of tips when planting butterfly weed in your garden. 

1. Don’t plant in areas where water is likely to pool
2. Start either from potted plants or seeds. 
3. Plant this flower in its permanent location because its long taproot is not easily dug up. 
4. If you can, plant butterfly weed six weeks prior to winter because it will perform  significantly better.
5. Be mindful that this plant is considered poisonous. Be sure small children and animals do not touch or eat the plants as these toxins can harm mammals. 
6. New butterfly weed plants may benefit from a weekly watering until the taproot is well established. After that only water if there is an ongoing drought. 

 Recent statistics released by the World Wildlife Fund show that the numbers of monarch butterflies are unfortunately declining. With milkweed being replaced with genetically modified crops and urban population centers, it is becoming more difficult for the monarchs to find a healthy migration zone. Just as we have learned with the bees when things are not organic they tend to cause more harm than help. Common milkweed is the monarch’s favorite food, however the butterfly weed is another source that can help! Therefore, we need more butterfly weed planted.

​As you all know, at Green Bridge Growers we pride ourselves on being organic. We encourage, support, and motivate more gardeners to transform their gardens, if not already there, to be organic. This connects to butterfly weeds because they are rather impactful for the organic home gardens. Create a garden filled with butterflies by planting butterfly weed in your garden and help the movement to save monarchs.

--​Lala Petty

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