List of St. Joseph, Missouri Native or Nearly Native Milkweeds
Turn your butterfly garden in St. Joseph, Missouri into a butterfly buffet with milkweeds that can be grown in your area. Milkweeds, which host the monarch and queen butterflies, come in a variety of colors and are great nectar plants as well. With milkweeds you get a two for one, an important host plant and an excellent nectar plant. Add milkweed to your list of native plants that can be grown in your garden.
There are seventeen of native or nearly native species of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) that can potentially be grown for Monarchs, the Queen Butterfly, and as a nectar plant for other insects. The Monarch and Queen butterflies use the cardenolides found in the milky sap of milkweeds to give an unpleasant taste to predators. These plants are also an important nectar source to all insects visiting your pollinator garden.
Location of St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph, Missouri is located in northwestern Missouri north of Kansas City. The species covered in this post cover those found in Buchanon County.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joesph, Missouri and most of Buchanon County are located in plant hardiness zone 6a. A small portion of south-central Buchanon County is located in zone 6b. When selecting plants, you will want to get those that can handle temperatures as cold as -100F to be sure they will survive.
Butterflies in St. Joseph, Missouri that are hosted by Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
The monarch butterfly has a wingspan of 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm) and is one of the most inconic butterflies in North America. Because of its association with milkweed and migration, it is often a bellweather of changes in the environment. The distinctive orange and black coloring is one that a number of butterflies try to mimic since the monarch is distasteful to predators. The bad taste comes from the ingestion of cardenolides of the milkweed by the butterfly. This butterfly can have several broods in a year and is known for its migrations to Mexico.
Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)
The queen butterfly is one of the mimics of the monarch butterfly described above and has an orange and black coloration. However, the queen has a more solid orange color and wing edges with a brownish hue. While looking like the monarch, it is smaller with a wingspan of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to 4 in (10.2 cm). In the south this butterfly can breed year-round, but in the north it breeds from April to November. Unlike the monarch, this species does not migrate. In the St. Joesph area, this species is often a stray from the south.
List of Milkweeds that are Native or Nearly Native in St. Joseph, Missouri
1. Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): Clasping milkweed is native to scattered locations through Missouri (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, clasping milkweed grows in dry woodlands, prairies, meadows, and roadsides having sandy or gravelly soil. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this plant has greenish-pink, red, brown, to purple flowers bloom from March to September. This milkweed is native to counties adjacent to Buchanon County and can be grown in its hardiness zone.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, clasping milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and requires full sun to part-shade with dry sandy soil. Seeds of clasping milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
2. Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Poke Milkweed (Ascelpias exaltata): Poke milkweed is native in one county in southeastern Missouri and a few counties in Iowa (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, this milkweed is found in moist woods, roadsides, and the edges of woods. Growing 2 to 6 feet tall, it is one of the taller milkweeds, and has flowers that are white to green with accents of rose, purple, or blue. The flowers bloom from April to August. While not native near to St. Joseph, this milkweed is native somewhat nearby and can be grown in the plant hardiness zone of St. Joseph. If you have a wooded area in your garden this species could be a good choice.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, poke milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, requires part-shade to shade, and moist soil. Poke milkweed seeds can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
3. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Swamp milkweed has two subspecies, ssp. incarnata and ssp. pulchra. The former is found throughout Missouri (hardy in zones 3-9), while the latter is not found in Missouri (Kartesz 2015). This species is native in the St. Joseph area. Like the name suggests this plant is found in wet places such as the shores of streams, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. This is one of the taller milkweeds growing from 3 to 5 feet tall. The flowers, which bloom from July to September, are generally a pink to red color, but there is also a white cultivar (pictured below).
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, swamp milkweed it is hardy in zones 3-9, requires full sun to part-shade and prefers moist to medium moisture soil, but can exist in drier soil in a landscape setting. Seeds for swamp milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
4. Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Long-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia): Long-leaf milkweed has two varieties, var. hirtella and var. longifolia. Of these var. hirtella occurs throughout Missouri except for the southeast (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, long-leaf milkweed grows in moist areas and wetlands such as bogs, swamps, flatwoods, and prairies having full sun. Growing from 1 to 2.5 feet tall, the greenish-white flowers bloom from April to July. This milkweed is native to the St. Joseph area.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, long-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 4-9, requires full sun, and moist to wet soils.
5. Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia), a Milkweed for Well-drained High pH Soil
Oval-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia): Oval-leaf milkweed is not native to Missouri but is native nearby in Iowa (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, oval-leaf milkweed grows in open areas having full sun or partial shade such as prairies, grasslands, savannas, railroad edges, and alluvial terraces. It is one of the shorter milkweeds and grows to about 2 feet tall. and has white, pink, or green flowers that bloom from May to August. While not native to the St. Joseph, this milkweed can handle the plant hardiness zone of this area.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, oval-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 5-9, requires full sun to part-shade and well-drained high pH soil. Oval-leaf milkweed seeds can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
6. Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis): Aquatic milkweed is native in southeastern Missouri (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, aquatic milkweed grows in open areas having full sun or partial shade such as prairies, grasslands, savannas, railroad edges, and alluvial terraces. Growing from 1 to 3.5 feet tall, this milkweed has white, pink, or green flowers that bloom from May to August. This milkweed is native to Missouri, but not near St. Joseph. However, this milkweed can grow in the plant hardiness zone of St. Joseph. With climate change induced warming, there should be more hardiness zone buffer in the future.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, aquatic milkweed is hardy in zones 5-9, requires full sun to part-sun, and moist soils.
7. Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), a Milkweed for Moist Soils
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens): Purple milkweed is native throughout Missouri and is native in the St. Joseph area (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, purple milkweed grows in moist to dry places having full sun to part shade such as swamps, woodlands, meadows, roadsides, and dry fields. Growing up to 6 feet tall, the purple to pink flowers bloom from May to July.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, purple milkweed is hardy in zones 3-8 and requires part-shade, but can handle full sun. Soils should be moist and well-drained, but dry soil can be tolerated. Seeds for purple milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
8. Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia), a Milkweed for Dry Rocky Soils
Four-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia): Four-leaf milkweed is native primarily in most of Missouri, except for St. Joseph area (Kartesz 2015). However, this species is nearly native and can handle the plant hardiness zone. In the wild, four-leaf milkweed grows in open places with full sun such as roadsides, pastures, and prairies. Growing from 1 to 3 feet, four-leaf milkweed has cream to pink flowers bloom from April to July.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, four-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 5-8 and grows best in places of full sun to part-shade with dry rocky soils.
9. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): Showy milkweed is aventive to two counties in Missouri, but is native just to the west in Kansas (Kartesz 2015). This nearly native milkweed can handle to the plant hardiness zone of St. Joseph. In the wild, showy milkweed grows mesic to dry open areas such as roadsides, fields, and woodlands. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this plant has purple to pink flowers that bloom from April to June.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, showy milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, and requires places of full sun having medium to dry well-drained soil. Seeds of showy milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
10. Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla), a Milkweed for Dry Soils
Slim-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla): Slim-leaf milkweed is native to the southern half of Missouri and to the west in Kansas (Kartesz 2015). This milkweed is nearly native to St. Joseph and can handle the plant hardiness zone. In the wild, slim-leaf milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies and sandy areas. Growing from 0.5 to 3 feet tall, this milkweed has greenish-white flowers that bloom from June to August.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, slim-leaf milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, and requires full sun and dry sandy or gravelly soils. Seeds of slim-leaf milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
11. Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii): Sullivant’s milkweed is native generally in the northern half of Missouri and in St. Joseph (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, Sullivant’s milkweed grows in open areas with full sun such as prairies, meadows, roadsides, and railroads. Growing from 2 to 5 feet tall, it has pink to purplish flowers that bloom from June to July.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, Sullivant’s milkweed is hardy in zones 3-7, and requires full sun, and medium to dry sandy soil. Seeds of Sullivant’s milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
12. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a Milkweed for all Conditions
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): Common milkweed is native throughout Missouri and St. Joseph except for a few counties in the southwest (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, common milkweed is found in open areas such as fields, pastures, and roadsides, where it can receive full sun. One of the taller milkweeds, it can grow up to 6 feet tall and has flowers ranging from pink, greenish-purple, greenish-white, to white and bloom from June to August.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, common milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9 and grows in almost any exposure and soil condition, though it prefers full sun. Seeds of common milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
13. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a Milkweed for all Conditions
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Butterfly weed is one of the most common for butterfly gardeners on the east coast of the United States. In Missouri, subspecies interior of this species is native throughout the state and in the St. Joseph area (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, butterfly weed grows in open areas with full sun such as fields, roadsides, and open woods. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, the characteristically orange flowers bloom throughout the summer and sometimes into the autumn.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, butterfly weed is hardy from zones 3-9 and grows in most conditions, and prefers full sun if possible. Seeds of butterfly weed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
14. Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata), a Milkweed for Dry Rocky or Sandy Soils
Red-Ring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata): Red-ring milkweed is native in southeastern Missouri (Kartesz 2015). While not native ot to the St. Joseph area, this species can handle the plant hardiness zone. In the wild, red-ring milkweed grows thickets, open woods, and roadsides that are dry and rocky or sandy. Growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, this milkweed has white flowers have a purple or red ring that bloom from May to July.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, red-ring milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, and requires part-sun to part-shade and dry rocky or sandy soils. Seeds of red-ring milkweed can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
15. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Whorled milkweed is native throughout Missouri and is native the St. Joseph area (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, whorled milkweed grows in open areas such as meadows and fields, where it can take advantage of full sun. Growing up to 3 feet tall, this milkweed has green to white flowers that bloom from May to September.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, whorled milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, and requires full sun to part-shade, and medium to dry soil. Seeds of whorled milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
16. Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry Soils
Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora): Green comet milkweed is native throughout Missouri and the St. Joseph area (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, green comet milkweed grows in open areas such as meadows and fields where there is full sun. Growing up to 3 feet, it has flowers that begin as a green color but age to become yellow and purple tinged.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, green comet milkweed is hardy in zones 3-9, and requires full sun to part-shade, and medium to dry sandy soil. Seeds of green comet milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
17. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis), a Milkweed for Medium to Dry High pH Soils
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis): Green comet milkweed is native in the St. Joseph area and throughout Missouri except for the northeastern part of the state (Kartesz 2015). In the wild, green milkweed grows in open areas where it can receive full sun and have high pH such as glades, prairies, roadsides, and pastures. Growing from 0.5 to 2 feet tall it is one of the shortest milkweeds. This milkweed has green, yellowish-green, or white flowers bloom from April to October.
In your St. Joseph, MO butterfly garden, this plant is hardy in zones 5-9, requires full sun, and medium to dry soils with a high pH. Seeds of green milkweed can be purchased at the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.
When selecting your St. Joseph, MO milkweed, be sure to make sure that it grows in your zone and habitat.
Books where you can find out more about Monarchs and Butterfly Gardening in St. Joseph, Missouri
- Branhagen, Alan. 2020. The Midwest Native Plant Primer – 225 Plants for a Earth-friendly Garden. Little and Brown. 256 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2023. Butterflies of the Midwest Field Guide – Butterfly Identification Guides. Adventure Publications. 364 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2022. Garden Bugs & Insects of the Midwest – Identify Pollinators, Pests, and Other Garden Visitors. Adventure Guides. 36 pp.
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References for St. Joseph, Missouri Milkweeds
- Kartesz, J.T. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. Link to website. Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]
