Gardeners of all skill levels can attract monarch butterflies to their small urban gardens by implementing effective design and plant placement strategies, as well as selecting the most suitable milkweed and nectar plants.
Understanding the Needs of Monarchs
Monarch butterflies require a specific set of conditions to thrive. They need milkweed plants to lay eggs and for their caterpillars to develop, while adult monarchs require nectar throughout the year.
- Milkweed is essential for the life cycle of monarchs, providing a food source for caterpillars and a host plant for the adult stage.
- Nectar plants, such as those in the Lamiaceae family, are necessary for adult monarchs to fuel their migration and other activities.
Design and Plant Placement Strategies
Research conducted by University of Kentucky entomologists Daniel Potter and Adam Baker found that the design and placement of monarch-friendly gardens can significantly impact the presence of monarchs. Key findings include:
- Milkweed plants should be placed around the perimeter of the garden to attract monarchs and provide a food source for caterpillars.
- Mulching around milkweed plants makes them more visible to monarchs and increases the number of visits and eggs laid.
- The north-south orientation of the garden is important for attracting incoming monarchs.
- Urban gardens surrounded by pavement, buildings, and traffic tend to attract fewer monarchs than those in other locations.
Milkweed Species for Urban Gardens
When selecting milkweed species for urban gardens, it’s essential to choose varieties that are compact and do not spread aggressively. Four milkweed species that are suitable for small gardens are:
- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Green milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
- Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
These species are attractive to bees and support the life cycle of monarchs.
Nectar Plants for Monarchs
In addition to milkweed, nectar plants are essential for supporting adult monarchs. Some nectar plants that attract and support adult monarchs include:
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Blazing star (Liatris spicata)
- Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
- Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
- New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve laeve)
- Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata)
Annual plants like zinnias also attract butterflies.
Creating a Monarch-Friendly Garden in a Container
If you don’t have space for a garden, you can still support monarchs by planting milkweed or nectar plants in pots. Butterfly milkweed is an excellent choice for containers, as it spreads by seed and does not produce rhizomes.
“Ecological traps” in the garden can harm monarchs. Examples include allowing invasive wasps to flourish and then killing caterpillars, or including unsuitable plants such as tropical milkweed. Planting a garden near a busy road where monarchs might be hit by vehicles is also a bad idea.
Get Involved and Learn More
To learn more about monarchs and the research conducted by Potter and Baker, visit the following resources:
| Planting for Success: How to Incorporate Milkweed into Your Garden | Michaela Rogers, Forests for Monarchs | July 17, 2024 |
| Monarch Nectar Plants: Mid-Atlantic | Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation |
You can also join the Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County for their monthly gardening presentations, farmers’ market booths, and other activities.
To create a monarch-friendly garden in your urban environment, remember to choose the right milkweed and nectar plants, design and place your garden carefully, and avoid ecological traps. By following these tips and getting involved with the Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County, you can help support the monarch butterfly population in your area.
