How to Grow Milkweed and Why You Should

Anyone in tune with the importance of pollinators and their plight will likely have heard about the value of milkweed (Asclepias spp).

Land development and the use of certain pesticides have resulted in habitat loss for several significant pollinators, not least the noble monarch butterfly. With milkweed being the sole plant that monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on, its decline is proving to be problematic for this species of butterfly.

Milkweed grows in the wild across the USA in different varieties, so there will likely be a species that will grow well or is native to your area.

If you have a little corner of your yard that could Support a pollination garden, having a look at growing milkweed could make some local or migratory butterflies happy.

Source: WWF Wild Classroom/YouTube

Why Milkweed?

Monarch butterflies are officially on the endangered species list according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their numbers are down 90% from what they were in 1992 as is the population of milkweed. 

Since milkweed is the only plant the monarch butterfly caterpillars will eat, it goes without saying that it is a vital plant. That is why there are several initiatives, including the Save Our Monarchs non-profit, that advocate for the planting a growing of milkweed where possible.

Once the caterpillars have become butterflies, they will enjoy an array of different flowers in your garden, so keep things varied if you can. Think about growing some asters, bee balm, chrysanthemums, daisies, echinacea, and yarrow as well as some black-eyed Susans and boneset.

Which Species of Milkweed?

Fortunately, several different species of milkweed work in different climates, from the dusky pink common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) to the fiery orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Before heading out to buy seeds, check which variety is native to your area. There are several resources online that can help you with this.

How to Grow Milkweed?

Source: Sam Marshall/YouTube

Since there are different varieties of milkweed, you will have to check specific growing conditions for the one suited to your climate. Here we will look into how to grow common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

Common milkweed is a fast grower that reaches two to four feet in height. It is native to AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV.

From seed- The seeds need to go through a process of cold stratification. For this reason, it is best to plant the seeds directly in the ground about 1/4 inch deep in the late fall. This will give the seeds a chance to go through a frost-thaw cycle that helps with germination in the spring.

If you have gotten hold of some seedlings, plant these out after the last frost of the season.

From cuttings- If you already have established plants, or have a friend who has, and want to multiply them, you can propagate them by cuttings.  For this, you need to wait until mid-summer when the stems are green. Then, with clean scissors, take cuttings that are about 5 inches long and have at least 3 leaf nodes on them.

Remove the bottom leaves from the stems, dip the ends into a rooting hormone, and push them into a pot of soil. Leave the pot in a shady spot for the cuttings to develop their roots.

After 6-10 weeks, you can plant the new plants out.

Best location- Common milkweed prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It also likes moist soil.  Plant them about 18 inches apart. As perennials, they spread by rhizome yet are proficient self-seeders. Once mature, the plants produce large pods that pop open and shed seeds all over.

If you have the opposite issue and are trying to contain your milkweed, you might have to remove these pods before they spread. You could always share them with friends and neighbors and spread the joy.

Number- Since you want to keep those very hungry caterpillars happy, grow milkweed in clumps of at least six plants if you have the space. These caterpillars will devour a plant in no time.

Note- While there are a bunch of amazing wild edibles and medicinals out there milkweed IS NOT one of them. It is toxic to humans. Leave the milkweed to the caterpillars.

Related Content:

• 10 Ways to Save Pollinators and Protect Our Food Supply
• Pollinators and Other Insect Populations Have Dropped 75% in the Past 25 Years – Here’s How You Can Help
• What to Plant in Your Garden to Help Save the Bees
• 10 Plants That Will Help Attract Bees to Your Garden in the Spring
• The Ins and Outs of Butterfly Gardens

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