A Comprehensive Guide to Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the western United States. This plant is a host to the Queen (Danaus…
Queen Butterfly
A Comprehensive Guide to Pallid Milkweed (Asclepias cryptoceras)
Pallid Milkweed (Asclepias cryptoceras) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the western United States. This plant is a host to the Queen (Danaus…
A Comprehensive Guide to Spider Milkweed (Asclepias asperula)
Spider Milkweed (Asclepias asperula) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the midwestern and southwestern United States, north to Idaho. This plant is a…
11 West Virginia Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) to Grow for Monarch Butterflies
There are eleven species of West Virginia milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Milkweeds are an important host species for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies. The Monarch butterfly in particular uses 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.
A Comprehensive Guide to Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the midwestern and southern United States. This plant is a host to the…
A Comprehensive Guide to Large-flower Milkweed (Asclepias connivens)
Large-flower Milkweed (Asclepias connivens) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the southeastern United States. This plant is a host to the Queen (Danaus…
Carolina Milkweed (Asclepias cinerea), a Comprehensive Guide in 10 Sections
Carolina Milkweed (Asclepias cinerea) is a herbaceous perennial that is found in the southeastern United States. This plant is a host to the Queen (Danaus…
The Royal, Stately, and Elegant Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)
The Queen butterfly is found in North America around Texas and the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Rarely, individuals will go north and in 2002 and 2003, some individuals were located in the Philadelphia and Reading areas of Pennsylvania (Monroe, James and David Wright. 2017. Butterflies of Pennsylvania, a field guide. University of Pittsburgh Press). It is part of the same genus as the Monarch butterfly, Danaus, and has seven recognized subspecies (Wikipedia).
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is a herbaceous perennial that grows in open areas such as fields, woodlands, and roadsides that are mesic to dry. It…