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Monarchs in Crisis: 9 Native Milkweeds You Can Plant to Help
Monarchs had their second worst year on record this past fall. As their population declines due to habitat loss, increased pesticide use, and climate change, the best thing we can do to help is plant native milkweeds in our yard. Here are 9 milkweed species native to the Southeast that you can plant right now.
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Plant Profile: Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)
The flowers of this milkweed crowd together in balls, creating a snowball effect that is especially stunning when plants are grouped in masses. This milkweed is not a preferred food source for Monarch caterpillars, but it still produces abundant nectar, making it a great pollinator-supporting plant to have in your garden.
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Plant Profile: Red Milkweed (Asclepias rubra)
Despite its name, Red Milkweed actually has pink blooms. It grows in swampy areas and would be a good choice for a bog garden, especially since it is not drought tolerant. This milkweed is somewhat rare in the wild and only has populations in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and South and North Carolina.
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Plant Profile: White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)
White Swamp Milkweed has winged seeds designed to float on water, which are dispersed by flooding events. It is also known as aquatic milkweed, and can survive very wet conditions, including almost complete submersion. It has a long bloom time and makes a great option for rain gardens or pond margins.
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Plant Profile: Sandhill Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata)
Also known as Pinewoods Milkweed, Sandhill Milkweed is a unique species that tends to sprawl along the ground and prefers growing in sandy soils or dry pine barrens. Alongside its pretty blooms, this milkweed has interesting leaves that turn almost purple as they age and bear pink to lavender veins.
● About Me
I’m Emily, the creator and author behind this blog. When I first started trying to attract pollinators to my yard, everything pointed to native plants. I had to spend hours and hours researching what to grow because there was no central hub of information for new gardeners like myself. So I decided to create it. I hope my website helps you skip the research and get straight to planting.
Southeastern Native Plants 