Asclepias Tuberosa Monarch. Milkweed asclepias is the host plant for monarch butterflies and it produces a sweet nectar that is sough by many butterfly species. Asclepias tuberosa l butterfly weed general description.
Monarch butterflies will go to many other flowers and milkweed for food list on youtube video always remember all milkweeds have caustic white sticky sap. Asclepias tuberosa butterfly milkweed asclepias incarnata swamp. In august 2019 we watched in awe as 3 different monarch caterpillars munched asclepias leaves and grew larger and larger each day.
It s popularly used in gardens to attract butterflies.
It grows in sandy or loamy soil in prairies roadsides and open woodlands. Its carrot like taproot allows it to survive periods of drought. Butterfly weed is a midwestern dry prairie native that thrives in full sun and well drained soil. In recent years it s attracted significant attention as an essential source of food for monarch butterflies who feed on it during their larval stage.