Milkweed for Monarch Larvae

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Gardening for Butterfly Larvae

CREATING a haven for butterflies

Monarch Specific Food

FWBG, BRIT, Fort Worth, Texas                                                                       Photograph: Jeanette Hyden

Green Milkweed, Antelope horn milkweed  (Asclepias viridis)

Milkweed is a host plant to the Monarch butterfly larvae. The butterfly larvae feeds on the leaves. 

Green milkweed or antelope horn milkweed, above, after it has flowered and created pods. The pods are usually erect, 2 ½ -5 in (6-13 cm) long and ½ – ¾ in (1-2 cm) wide. 

FWBG, BRIT, Fort Worth, Texas                                                                                     Photograph: Jeanette Hyden
Green Milkweed, Antelope horn milkweed  (Asclepias viridis)

A silky, hair-like structure assists in dispersing the seeds when the pods break open.

I have milkweed growing in my backyard for the monarch butterfly larvae. You can plant it in the spring from seed or buy it in the spring because many nurseries are now carrying several varieties. It is very important to select the correct variety of milkweed for your state.

Local County Extension offices or State Agricultural Schools can offer specific instructions for selecting varieties for your hardiness zone.  Links: Examples by State Texas | Use: Green Milkweed, Antelope horn milkweed  (Asclepias viridis), California Xerces Society, Michigan.

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Milkweed is found in the Apocynaceae family, (the family etymology is derived from the Greek, Apocynum, meaning, "dog-away"), dogbane family.

The Milkweed flower is called an umbellate cymes

Milkweed seedpod

             

 

The most common methods of seed dispersal for plants are wind, water, animals, explosion and fire. When the milkweed follicle breaks open the seeds are transported by the wind as the breeze blows the hairlike comas to more distant locations.

                                    

Milkweed seedpod, a follicle

The seeds, each with long, white flossy hairs (coma), occur in the follicle seedpod and are dispersed after the pod breaks open and the wind carries the seed away.

 

Milkweed

 

Slim-leafed milkweeds:

 

Whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata --- Identifyng features: whorls of leaves. Usually three to five leaves per junction, but may have mostly pairs with a few whorls. Flowers white with neck and long horns.

 

Slim milkweed, Asclepias linearis— Identifyng features: Paired opposite leaves: Never whorled leaves, flowers much like verticillata, white with neck and long horns at center of hoods

 

 

Narrow-leaved milkweed, Asclepias stenophylla--- Identifyng features: Alternate leaves, or sometimes opposite leaves: (regular sized plant) Never whorled leaves, flowers neckless, hoods have little protrusions but  not  centered  long  horns. Flowers whitish, but not as white as vertcillata or linearis—more green.

 

 

 Woodson Engelmann's Milkweed, Asclepias engelmanniana--- Alternate to almost opposite leaves: (long slim plants up to 48”, and leaves narrow and widely spaced)  Flowers green with small or no horns  on hoods. Leaves droop and may curl or twist. Leaves can be 8” or more long. (Linearis and stenophylla look a lot like verticillata with small differences in leaves and flowers (best seen in closeup for differences)

Engelmanniana looks weird—long and leggy with drooping twisting leaves. Its flowers are almost same as A. stenophylla.)

 

Not Slim-leafed milkweeds:

Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa--- Identifyng features: has orange/yellow flowers, and stiff, hairy stems and leaves, prefers acid soils.

 

Green milkweed, Asclepias viridiflora--- Identifyng features: has flower clusters that hang down, hoods clasp crown—color and leaves vary a lot

 

Antelope-Horns Milkweed, Asclepias asperula--- Identifyng features: A. asperula and Asclepias viridis are very similar in flower, with spreading club shaped hoods, but A. asperula has narrower, pointed leaves and a sprawling habit, and more maroon on hoods. A. viridis has oval leaves and is more upright, with lavender hoods. The hoods on A. asperula go all the way to the ends of the petals, but hose on A.  viridis stop well inside the edge of the flower.

 

Sidecluster Milkweed, Zizotes Milkweed, Asclepias oenotheroides --- Identifyng features: Recently found in Collin County, more common in the western 2/3 of Texas. Upright to sprawling habit with single or multiple stems. Flowers greenish, in loose clusters, have hoods (with horns) that extend well above the gynostegium. Plant smells strongly of burnt rubber when touched.

More information, go to:                           

•  Project Monarch Health
• Xerces.org has a milkweed seed finder
• Monarch Watch’s Milkweed Market
• https://www.monarchparasites.org
• https://www.journeynorth.org
• https://www.nwf.org/monarchstewards
• https://blog.nwf.org/2021/08/from-backyard-monarch-enthusiast-to-citizen-community-scientist/?
• https://youtu.be/dAZ7KTpiRR4

 References                                                             

 ITIS Integrated Taxonomy Information System

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~Grassroots Horticulture~

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