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Host Plants

Yellow flowers of Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)

Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), a Comprehensive Guide in 9 Sections

Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the midwest and eastern United States and eastern Canada. This plant, along with other goldenrods, is an important nectar source for many insects in the fall including the Monarch butterfly. It can grow up to 7 feet tall and has lanceolate to ovate leaves with crenate to serrate margins. The golden yellow flowers bloom from August to October and it is hardy in zones 4-8. Along with the Canada goldenrod, this is very common on roadsides and fields. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), a Comprehensive Guide in 9 Sections

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the northern tier of the United States and the eastern part of Canada. This plant is an important nectar source for many insects in the fall including the Monarch butterfly. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and has lanceolate to linear-shaped leaves that can be nearly entire to toothed. The golden yellow flowers bloom from August to October and it is hardy in zones 3-9. In the northeastern United States, this species is ubiquitous along the roadsides in the fall. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Plant of Sullivant's Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), a Comprehensive Guide in 5 Sections

Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the midwestern United States and Ontario in Canada. This milkweed is a host plant to the Monarch Butterfly and a nectar plant to others. It can grow from 2 to 3 feet tall and has ovate shaped leaves. The pink to purple flowers bloom from June to July. It is hardy in zones 3-7 and prefers open areas with full sun that have moist to mesic soil. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Yellowish-green flowers of Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)

Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora), a Comprehensive Guide in 5 sections

Green Comet Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the southeastern United States. This milkweed is a host plant to the Monarch Butterfly and a nectar plant to others. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and has linear-shaped leaves. The green with flowers that become yellowish to purple-tinged with age, bloom from June to August and is hardy in zones 3-9. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Sandhill Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) plant in a field

Sandhill Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata), a Comprehensive Guide in 5 sections

Sandhill Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the southeastern United States. This milkweed is a host plant to the Monarch Butterfly and a nectar plant to others. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and has linear shaped leaves. The white with pink or purple tinged flowers bloom from June to July. It is grows between 3,500 ft and 7,000 ft of elevation and is hardy in zones 6-10. The seeds for this plant can be purchased in the McMullen House Bed & Breakfast Garden Shop.

Flower of White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans)

White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans), a Comprehensive Guide in 9 Sections

White-stem Milkweed (Asclepias albicans) is a shrubby perennial that is native to southern California and Arizona in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. This milkweed is a host plant to two butterflies and two moths and a nectar plant to others. It can be grow to be 3-9 feet tall, but sometimes to 12 feet and is found in dry gravelly areas. The flowers generally flower from March to June, but can flower in other seasons and are greenish to white with hints of brown, pink, or purple, giving them a creamy appearance.