July is Monarch and Pollinator Awareness Month in Minnetonka, so it’s a great time to highlight the value of milkweed in our yards and natural areas.

Such a good neighbor

Less than a decade ago, you’d have found it almost impossible to buy milkweed in a plant nursery. This group of wildflowers, including more than 70 species native to the United States, had a bad reputation as weedy and harmful. But today we know better.

Here’s the scoop. Milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat. Meanwhile, native bees, butterflies, wasps, hummingbirds and other pollinators stop by to gather nectar or pollen from the large and fragrant milkweed flower heads. Even if they don’t pollinate, many species in the milkweed community provide valuable services in our yards – they eat aphids, mites and other pests, for example, or decompose dead plant material and return nutrients to the soil. In turn, those little creatures provide a rich food source for birds and other wildlife.

Another bonus: Milkweeds produce eye-catching blossoms that add beauty to our yards.

Milkweeds galore!

Today, most plant nurseries – especially those that specialize in native species – offer several varieties of milkweed. That includes butterfly, swamp and common milkweed (pictured here), as well as showy, whorled and other less familiar native milkweeds. You might have to shop early, because milkweeds are now all the rage among urban and suburban gardeners.

Are you ready to begin planting milkweed and other native species to support pollinators? Take a look at our Resilient Minnetonka program! We’ve compiled plant lists, DIY resources, learning modules, and more in a large resource library. You can also link to the online native plant sale, request a free site consultation, or ask about free buckthorn pick-up.

And here are some pro tips for growing milkweed:

1. Choose your planting locations in advance and look closely at the growing conditions in each spot. Like all plants, every milkweed species grows best in particular conditions of moisture, light or soil type – so you’ll have better success if you put the right plant in the right place.
2. Cage young plants until they’re established. Mammals generally learn to avoid large milkweeds, but they won’t hesitate to gobble up tender young plants.
3. Water ‘em until the ground freezes. Young plants need water every day or two (as needed to supplement rainfall), and that’s especially true for milkweed species that prefer moist soil conditions.