butterflies need this plant!
Please help them!
While Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed to survive. You can help them by protecting milkweed plants where they grow--or growing some yourself.
Not just Monarchs
Numerous butterflies in New England eat the nectar from milkweed plants, including the Great spangled fritillary shown here. The flowers also attract birds.
Monarch butterfly caterpillars
Milkweed is the only plant that Monarch butterflies can lay eggs on. Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars must eat milkweed leaves to survive.
The flowers
Milkweed flowers are highly fragrant and attract and feed all sorts of wildlife, from Monarch butterflies (and other butterflies) to moths, pollinators, songbirds and hummingbirds.
Monarch butterflies are in decline
Monarch butterflies population is in decline. Experts estimate that they have lost 90% of their populations since the 1980s. Please help them by not spraying, cutting or removing milkweed where you find it.