It's not considered a 'Butterfly Waystation' unless you have these 10 plants...
- Camila Tobon
- Jun 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Include at least 10 Asclepias host plants, with a minimum of two different varieties, to ensure a sufficient food source for Monarch butterflies and caterpillars.
Incorporate a range of nectar plants that bloom from spring to fall to offer a consistent food supply for adult butterflies throughout the growing season.
Adhere to sustainable gardening practices by avoiding herbicides or pesticides that could harm caterpillars or butterflies!
Asclepias (also known as Milkweed or Butterfly Weed) serves as their host plant.
Facts about Asclepias:
There are various types of milkweed, such as Common Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, and Whorled Milkweed.
Planting different milkweed varieties extends the period during which Monarch butterflies can utilize your waystation.
Monarch caterpillars require a substantial amount of milkweed to transform into butterflies. In fact, a single caterpillar can consume 20-30 large leaves!
Here are 20 plants that you can get:
While not all plants are visibly flowering in this image (Phlox! Salvia! Lavender!), here is a numbered view of a certified Monarch waystation. Below is a list of the plants, along with a detailed list of host and nectar plants for creating your own waystation.
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Wild Bergamot / Oswego Tea (Monarda fistulosa)
Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantine)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Elderberries (Sambuca nigra)
Medicinal Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Spotted Bee Balm/ Dotted Horsemint (Monarda punctate)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora caerulea)
Ball Dahlia ‘Sylvia’ & Pompon Dahlia ‘Golden Scepter’ (Dahlia)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
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