Monarch Butterfly Purple Milkweed. Photo courtesy of the vagary. Milkweed plants are critical to the monarch butterflies survival whose population in north america has plummeted by 90 in the last 20 years.
Common milkweed asclepias syriaca is a native herbaceous perennial whose main virtue is its appeal to butterflies especially the monarch which deposits its eggs on the milkweed when the caterpillars hatch they feed on the leaves of milkweed. Purple milkweed is highly sought after because of its deep purple flowers. The leaves are attractive to monarch butterflies for use in rearing their young making it a good addition to any butterfly garden.
However when given a choice their favorite milkweed by far is the asclepias incarnata common name.
Milkweed plants are critical to the monarch butterflies survival whose population in north america has plummeted by 90 in the last 20 years. Attractive and robust purple milkweed tends to spread less aggressively than other milkweed species. It may be the most familiar north american butterfly and is considered an iconic pollinator species. However when given a choice their favorite milkweed by far is the asclepias incarnata common name.